■ 


FROM   THE  LIBRARY  OF 
REV.   LOUIS    FITZGERALD    BENSON,  D.  D. 

BEQUEATHED    BY   HIM   TO 

THE   LIBRARY  OF 

PRINCETON  THEOLOGICAL  SEMINARY 


m 


/ 


U+      Z^^ja, 


// 


0  4,  Hrf.  /      U^C 


/ 


MISCELLANIES, 

MORAL    and    INSTRUCTIVE,' 

I     N 

PROSE   and  VERSE; 

COLLECTED     FROM 

Various    Authors, 

FOR      THE 

USE    of    SCHOOLS, 

AND 

IMPROVEMENT 

O    F 

YOUNG     PERSONS     of     BOTH    SEXES, 


c{  'Tis  Education  forms  the  common  Mind  ; 

"  Juil  as  the  Twig  is  bent,  the  Tree's  incliri'd.*1'    Pope, 


PHILADELPHIA: 

Primed    by  JOSEPH    JAMES,    in    Chemut-StrecU 

between  Front  and  Second- Streets, 

k.^cc.lxxx.vii, 


(    Hi    ) 


H..v^«^S^S><S>V"V->" 


PREFACE. 


X  HE  right  education  of  youth,  being  a  point  of  great  im- 
portance to  the  prefent  and  fucceeding  generations,  it  is  to  be 
regretted,  that  the  want  of  proper  books  for  the  ufe  of  fchools, 
fhould  have  been  fo  general  a  fubject  of  complaint  ;  and  that 
very  few  attempts  have  been  mace  to  fupply  this  deficiency, 
by  introducing  fomething  on  fuch  a  plan,  as  might,  befidcs 
improving  the  understandings  and  morals,  initructively  amufe 
the  vacant  hours  of  young  people,  and  have  a  tendency  to  ren- 
der the  talk  of  teaching  a  more  agreeable  employment. 

With  a  view  to  thefe  objects,  the  following  Mifcellaneons 
Compilation  is  now  offered  to  the  public.  Moft  of  the  extracts 
which  ccmpofe  it,  were  collected  fome  years  ago,  from  a  va- 
riety of  authors,  by  a  perfcn  who  had  no  other  intention,  at 
the  time,  but  that  of  preferring  them  for  her  own  perufal  and 
amufement ;  and  who,  from  motives  wholly  difintereiled,  has 
lately,  at  the  requeft  of  her  friends,  confented  to  their  publica- 
tion, with  a  hope,  that  if  they  are  favourably  received,  it  may 
prove  an  incitement  to  fome  perfon  of  greater  abilities,  to  pur- 
fue  this  or  a  better  plan,  whereby  our  fchools  may  be  furnifhed 
with  a  book  more  deferving  their  acceptance. 

It  gives  fome  concern  to  the  compiler,  that  me  neglected 
to  diftinguim  the  different  parts,  with  the  names  of  their 
authors,  at  the  time  they  were  felected^  as  it  is  not  now  in  her 
power  to  fupply  the  omi/iion. 

The 


Th  e  editor  has  thought  it  neceflary  to  remark,  that  a  few 
verbal  alterations  have  been  made  in  fome  of  the  extracts,  the 
better  to  adapt  them  to  the  ufe  of  the  prefent  deiign  ;  but  as 
the  fentiments  and  tenor  of  the  original  pieces  are  not  thereby 
materially  changed,  it  is  hoped  this  freedom  will  be  excufed 
by  their  refpeclive  authors,  to  whom  not  the  leaH  injury  or  o£- 
fence  has  been  intended. 

The    EDITOR. 


ONE  of  the  moft  approved  judges  of  books  amongft  n?, 
after  perufmg  fome  parts  of  the  manufcript,  has  expreffed  hi* 
approbation  thereof  as  follows  ; 

"  I  have  read,  with  much  pleafure,  the  manufcript  fpe- 
••  cimen  communicated  to  me  of  the  Mifcellanies  in  Profe  and 
M  Verfe.  I  am  glad  to  hear  they  are  now  ordered  for  the 
«*  prefs. 

"  A  H0OK,  containing  fo  many  well  chofen  fentiments 
"  and  excellent  inftruclions,  put  into  the  hands  of  our  children, 
*'  cannot  but  be  highly  ufeful  to  the  rifing  generation. 

B.   FRANKLIN." 


A   MORNING 


{    5    ) 
A     MORNING      HYMN, 


T. 


O   thee,  let  my  firft  offerings  rife, 

Whofe  fun  creates  the  day, 
Swift  as  his  glad'ning  influence  flies, 

And  fpotlefs  as  his  ray. 
What  numbers  with  heart-piercing  fighs 

Have  paft  this  tedious  night  ! 
What  numbers  too  have  clos'd  their  eyes, 

No  more  to  fee  the  light ! 
Sound  was  my  fleep,  my  dreams  were  gay> 

How  fhort  fuch  time  reviewed! 
My  night  ftole  unperceiv'd  away ; 

I'm  like  the  day  renew'd. 
This  day  thy  fav'ring  hand  be  nigh, 

So  oft  vouchfaf  'd  before  ; 
Still  may  it  lead,  protect,  fupply, 

And  I  that  hand  adore. 
If  blifs  thy  Providence  impart, 

For  which  refign'd  I  pray, 
Give  me  to  feel  the  grateful  heart, 

And  without  guilt  be  gay. 
Affliction,  mould  thy  love  intend, 

As  vice  or  folly's  cure, 
Patient  to  gain  that  gracious  end, 

May  I  the  means  endure. 
Thus  from  my  fix'd  or  varying  fate, 

Some  virtue  let  me  gain, 
That  Heaven,  nor  high,  nor  low  eftate, 

When  fent,  may  fend  in  vain. 
Be  this,  and  ev'ry  future  day 

Still  wifer  than  the  pail, 
That  life's  improvement  to  furvey 

May  well  fuftaia  my  laft. 


¥HE 


(    6    ) 

THE  duties  of  religion,  fincerely  and  regularly  performed, 
will  always  be  fufficient  to  exalt  the  meaneft,  and  to  exercife  the 
higheft  understanding.  That  mind  will  never  be  vacant,  which 
is  frequently  recalled  by  ftated  duties  to  meditations  on  eter- 
nal 'interefts ;  nor  can  any  hour  be  long,  which  is  fpent  in 
obtaining  fome  new  qualification  for  celeftial  happinefs. 

TO  love  an  enemy,  is  the  diftinguifhing  characleriftic  of  a 
religion,  which  is  not  of  man  but  of  God.  It  could  be  de- 
livered as  a  precept,  only  by  him  who  lived  and  died  to  efta- 
blifh  it  by  his  example. 

I F  thou  doll  good  to  man,  as  an  evidence  of  thy  love  to  God, 
thy  virtue  will  be  exalted  from  moral  to  divine ;  and  that  hap- 
pinefs, which  is  the  foretafle  of  paradife,  will  be  thy  reward 
upon  earth. 

RECREATION  after  bufinefs  is  allowable ;  but  he  that 
follows  his  pleafure  inftead  of  his  bufinefs,  fhali  in  a  little  time 
have  no  bufinefs  to  follow. 


RESIGNATION. 

THOU  Pow'r  Supreme,  by  whofe  command  I  live, 
The  grateful  tribute  of  my  praife  receive; 
To  thy  indulgence,   I  my  being  owe, 
And  all  the  joys  which  from  that  being  flow. 
Scarce  eighteen  funs  have  form'd  the  rolling  year, 
And  run  their  deflin'd  courfes  round  the  fphere, 
Since  thou  my  undiitinguiuYd  form  furvey'd, 
Among  the  lifelefs  heaps  of  matter  laid ; 
Thy  fkill  my  elemental  clay  refin'd, 
The  flraggling  parts  in  beauteous  order  join'd; 
With  perfect  fymmetry  compos 'd  the  whole, 
Ana  ftampt  thy  facred  image  on  my  foul ; 
A  foul,  fufceptible  of  endlefs  joy  ! 
Wliofe  frame,  nor  force,  nor  time,  can  e'er  defiroy, 
But  fhall  fubfift,  when  nature  claims  my  breath, 
And  bid  defiance  to  the  power  of  death,  The 


(    7    ) 

To  realms  of  bill's,   with  active  freedom  foar, 

And  live  when  earth  and  hell  (hall  be  no  more. 

Indulgent  God,    in  vain  my  tongue  afTays, 

For  this  immortal  gift,  to  fpeak  thy  praife. 

How  fhall  my  heart,   its  grateful  fenfe  reveal, 

When  all  the  energy  of  words  mull  fail  ? 

Oh  !  may  its  influence  in  my  life  appear, 

And  every  action,  prove  my  thanks  fincere. 

Grant  me,  great  God  !   a  heart  to  thee  inclin'd, 

Increafe  my  faith,   and  rectify  my  mind  ; 

Teach  me  betimes  to  tread  thy  facred  ways, 

And  to  thy  fervice  confecrate  my  days  ; 

Still  as  thro'  life's  uncertain  maze  I  ftray, 

Be  thou  the  guiding-ftar  to  mark  my  way  ; 

Conduct  the  iteps  of  my  unguarded  youth, 

And  point  their  motions  to  the  paths  of  truth  ; 

Protect  me  by  thy  providential  care, 

And  teach  my  foul  t'  avoid  the  tempter's  fhare ; 

Thro'  all  the  various  fcenes  of  human  life, 

In  calms  of  eafe,  or  bluftering  florins  of  ftrife, 

Thro*  every  turn  of  this  inconitant  flate, 

Preferve  my  temper,  equal  and  fedate  ; 

Give  me  a  mind  that  bravely  does  defpife, 

The  low  defigns  of  artifice  and  lies ; 

Be  my  religion,  fuch  as  taught  by  thee, 

Alike  from  pride  and  fuperflition  free  ; 

Inform  my  judgment,  rectify  my  will, 

Confirm  my  reafon,   and  my  paflions  ftill  ; 

To  gain  thy  favour  be  my  only  end, 

And  to  that  fcope  may  every  action  tend  ; 

Amidfl  the  pleafures  of  a  profp'rous  flate, 

Whofe  flatt'ring  charms  too  oft  the  mind  elate, 

Still  may  I  think  to  whom  thefe  joys  I  owe, 

And  blefs  the  bounteous  hand  from  whence  they  flow  ; 

Or  if  an  adverfe  fortune  be  my  fhare, 

Let  not  its  terrors  tempt  me  to  defpair, 

But  bravely  arm'd,  a  fteady  faith  maintain, 

And  own  ail  befl  which  thy  decrees  ordain  ; 

On  thy  Almighty  Providence  depend, 

The  bell  protestor  and  the  fureft  friend  : 

Thus 


f     8     ) 

Thus  on  life's  ftage  may  I  my  part  maintain* 
And  at  my  exit  thy  applaufes  gain  ; 
When  thy  pale  herald  fummons  me  away, 
Support  me  in  that  great  cataftrophe  ; 
In  that  laft  conflict  guard  me  from  alarms, 
And  take  my  foul,  expiring,  to  thy  arms. 


"BLESSED  are  the  poor  in  fpirit,  for  their's  is  the  king- 
rc  dom  of  Heaven." — I'hus  our  bkjQcd  Saviour  opened  his  fer- 
raon  on  the  mount  ;  and  from  his  example  we  may  be  affured, 
that  humility  is  the  richer!  garment  that  the  foul  can  wear.  By 
this  word  is  to  be  underftood,  not  an  abjecl  poornefs  of  fpirit, 
that  would  (loop  to  do  a  mean  thing ;  but  fuch  an  humble  fenfe 
of  hbrn? n  nature,  as  fets  the  heart  and  affections  right  towards 
God,  and  gives  us  every  temper  that  is  tender  and  affectionate 
towards  our  .fellow  creatures.  This  is  the  foil  of  all  virtues, 
re  every  thing  that  is  good  and  lovely  grows. 

DESPISE  not  labour ;  if  you  do  not  want  it  for  food,  you 
may  for  phyfic  j  It  flrengthens  the  body,  invigorates  the  mindj 
and  prevents  the  ill  confequences  of  idlenefs. 


OBSERVE  the  ant,  for  fne  inftrucls  the  man* 
And  preaches  labour,  gath'ring  all  fhecan, 
Then  brings  it  to  increafe  her  heap  at  home, 
Againit  the  winter  which  fne  knows  will  come  ; 
And  when  thai  comes  fhe  creeps  abroad  no  more, 
But  lies  at  home  and  feafts  upon  her  flore. 


AN    EVENING    REFLECTION. 

WHILE  night,  in  folemn  made,  invefts  the  pole, 
And  calm  reflection  fooths  the  penfive  foul; 
While  reafon,  undiflurb'd,  aflerts  her  (way, 
And  life's  deceitful  colours  fade  away — 

To 


(     9     ) 

To  thee,  all-confcious  Prefence  !  I  devote 
This  peaceful  interval  of  fober  thought. 
Here  all  my  better  faculties  confine, 
And  be  this  hour  of  facred  filence  thine. 
If  by  the  day's  illufive  fcenes  milled, 
My  erring  foul  from  virtue's  path   has  ftray'd, 
Snar'd  by  example  or  by  paftion  warm'd, 
Some  falfe  delight  my  giddy  {enfe  has  charm 'd  ; 
My  calmer  thoughts  the  wretched  choice  reprove, 
And  my  beft  hopes  are  center 'd  in  thy  love. 
Deprived  of  this,  can  life  one  joy  afford ! 
Its  utmoft  boaft,  a  vain,  unmeaning  word. 

But,  ah  !  how  oft  my  lawlefs  paihons  rove, 
And  break  thofe  awful  precepts  I  approve  ! 
Purfue  the  fatal  impulfe  I   abhor, 
And  violate  the  virtue  I  adore ! 
Oft  when  thy  better  Spirit's  guardian  care, 
Warn'd  my  fond  foul  to  mun  the  tempting  fnare, 
My  ftubborn  wri  11  his  gentle  aid  repreft, 
And  check 'd  the  rifmg  goodnefs  in  my  breaft; 
Mad  with  vain  hopes,  or  urg'd  by  falfe  defires, 
Stili'd  his  foft  voice  and  quench 'd  his  facred  fires. 
With  grief  oppreft,  and  proftrate  in  the  dull, 
Should 'ft  thou  condemn,  I  own  the  fentence  juft. 
But,  oh  !  thy  fofter  titles  let  me  claim, 
And  plead  my  caufe  by  mercy's  gentle  name — 
Mercy,  that  wipes  the  penitential  tear, 
And  dilTipates  the  horror  of  defpair  ; 
From  rig'rous  juftice  fteals  the  vengeful  hour, 
Softens  the  dreadful  attribute  of  pow'r, 
Difarms  the  wrath  of  an  offended  God, 
And  feals  my  pardon  in  a  Saviour's  blood. 
All-pow'rful  grace,  exert  thy  gentle  fway, 
And  teach  mv  rebel  paiTions  to  obey, 
Left  lurking  folly,  with  infidious  art, 
Regain  my  volatile,  inconftant  heart : 
Shall  every  high  refolve  devotion  frames, 
Be  only  lifelefs  founds  and  fpeeious  names  ? 
Oh  t  rather  while  thy  hopes  and  fears  controul, 
In  this  ftill  hour,  each  motion  of  my  foul, 

B  2  Secure 


f     io     ) 

Secure  its  fafety  by  a  fudden  doom, 
And  be  the  foft  retreat  of  Deep  my  tomb  ; 
Calm  let  me  (lumber  in  that  dark  repofe, 
'Till  the  lafl  morn  its  orient  beam  difclofe ; 
Then  when  the  great  archangel's  potent  found 
Shall  echo  thro'  creation's  ample  round, 
Wak'd  from  the  ileep  of  death,  with  joy  furvey 
The  op'ning  fpiend'ors  of  eternal  day. 


PRIDE  hides  a  man's,  faults  from  himfelf,  and  magnifies 
them  to  others. 

"  THERE  is  nothing  (fays  Plato)  fo  delightful,  as  the  hear- 
tf  ing  or  the  fpeaking  of  truth.''  For  this  reafon,  there  is  no  con- 
Terfation  fo  agreeable,  as  that  of  the  man  of  integrity,  wha 
hears  without  any  intention  to  betray,  and  fpeaks  without  anjr 
intention  to  deceive. 

Truth  is  always  confident  with  itfelf,  and  needs  nothing 
to  help  it  out ;  it  is  always  near  at  hand,  and  fits  upon  our  lips, 
and  is  ready  to  drop  out  before  we  are  aware :  Whereas  a  lie 
is  troublefome,  and  fets  a  man's  invention  on  the  rack,  and  one 
trick  needs  a  great  many  more  of  the  fame  kind  to  make  it  good* 

MORAL  virtues  themfelves,  without  religion,  are  but 
cold,  lifelefs  and  infipid :  It  is  religion  only  which  opens  the 
mind  to  great  conceptions,  fills  it  with  the  mod  fublime  ideas, 
and  warms  the  foul  more  than  fenfual  pieafures. 

B  Y  reading  we  enjoy  the  dead,  by  converfation,  the  living, 
and  by  contemplation,  ourfelves.  Reading  enriches  the  me- 
mory, converfation  poliihes  the  wit,  and  contemplation  im- 
proves the  judgment. 

THE  commands  of  Heaven  (in  the  obfervance  of  which  re- 
ligion principally  confifts)  are  very  plain  and  obvious  to  the 
meaneft  understanding,  and  are  nothing  elfe  but  exhortations  to 
love  and  directions  for  focial  happineft* 

GREAT 


(     ir     ) 

GREAT  is  the  fteadinefs  of  foul  and  though?, 
By  reafon  bred,  and  by  religion  taught : 
Which  like  a  rock  amidil  the  ftormv  waves, 
Unmov'd  remains,  and  all  affliction  braves. 

WISDOM's  an  evennefs  of  mind  and  foul, 
A  Heady  temper  which  no  cares  controul ; 
No  pafiions  ruffle,  no  defires  inflame  ; 
Still  conflant  to  itfelf,  and  ftill  the  fame. 

ACCOMPLISHMENTS  by  Heaven  were  firft  defign'd, 
Lefs  to  adorn,    than  to  amend  the  mind  ; 
Each  mould  contribute  to  this  gen'ral  end, 
And  all  to  virtue  as  their  centre  tend  ; 
Th*  acquirements  which  our  bell:  efteem  invite, 
Should  not  project,  but  foften,   mix,   unite, 
In  glaring  light  not  ftrongly  be  difplay'd, 
But  fweetly  loft,  and  melted  into  made. 

A  S  the  gay  flowers  which  nature  yields 
So  various  on  the  vernal  fields, 
Delight  the  fancy  more  than  thole 
The  garden  gives  to  view  in  equal  rows  ; 
As  the  pure  ftream,  whofe  mazy  train, 
The  prattling  pebbles  check  in  vain, 
Gives  native  pleafure,  while  it  leads 
Its  random  waters  fwiftly  thro'  the  meads  3 
As  birds  on  boughs,  in  early  fpring, 
Their  wood-notes-wild  near  rivers  ling, 
Grateful  their  warbling  llrains  repeats 
And  foothe  the  ear  irregularly  f.veet  ; 
So  fimple  drefs  and  native  grace, 
Will  bell  become  the  lovely  face  ; 
For  the  judicious  man  fufpecfs 
In  artful  ornaments  conceaFd  defects. 

MOST  of  the  miferies  of  life,   undoubtedly  remit  from 
gur  ftraying  from  the  path  which  leads  to  content. 

FRIEND,- 


{  *  ) 

FRIENDSHIP  delights  in  equal  fellowfhip, 
Where  purity  of  rank,  and  mutual  offices, 
Engage  both  fides  alike,  and  keep  the  balance  ev'n. 
'Tis  irkfome  to  a  gen'rous,  grateful  heart, 
To  be  opprefs'd  beneath  a  load  of  favours, 
Still  to  receive  and  run  in  debt  with  friendship, 
Without  the  power  of  paying  fomething  back. 


NEVER  fay  any  thing  dire&ly  tending  to  your  own 
praife  ;  nor  when  you  have  done  or  faid  any  thing  that  deferves 
it,  receive  it  from  others  with  indifference.  Be  neither  too  co- 
vetous of  it,  nor  appear  difpleafed  or  confufed  at  receiving  it ; 
but  when  you  have  done  any  thing  worthy  of  praife,  fuffer 
yourfelf  to  be  told  of  it,  without  rebuffing  thofe  who  are  doing 
you  juftice.  In  your  private  thoughts  cliveil  yourfelf  of  it, 
and  return  it  to  God,  as  the  giver  of  the  gift,  and  thebleffer  of 
the  action.  Give  him  unfeigned  thanks,  for  making  you  an 
inftrument  of  his  glory  for  the  benefit  of  others, 

THE  advice  of  Pythagoras  is,  that  as  the  bodv  is  no 
more  than  the  fervant  of  tie  foul,  it  mould  only  be  nourifhed 
fo  as  it  may  belt  perform  an  humble  and  obedient  fervice  to  it. 

THE  duties  that  are  owing  to  friends,  are  integrity, 
iove,  counfel  and  aififtance.  It  is  not  intimacy  and  frequencv 
of  converfarion,  that  makes  a  friend,  but  a  diiintereited  ob- 
fervance  of  thefe  duties. 

T  H  E  R  E  is   no  manner  of  life  fo  ftrait,  or  miferable, 
that  hath  not  fome  folaee  and  confolation.     Jonah  had  leifure 
to  make  his  prayer  unto  God,    even  in  the  belly  of  the  h 
and  was  heard. 

I  T  is  fome  fhort  refrefnment  to  friends  and  relations,  to  fee 
and  hear  from  one  another,  but  it  paiieth  away  ;  and  we  have 
here  no  continuing  city,  no  abiding  delights  in  this  world  :  our 
nain>  elfewhere.  Thofe  we  have,  lofe  much  of  their 
fweetnefs,  from  the  thoughts  of  parting  with  them,  even 
we  enjoy  them  j  but  the  happinefc  to  come  is  eternal. 


(     '3     ) 

B  E  very  careful  in  your  promifes,  and  juft  in  your  perform- 
ances, and  remember  it  is  better  to  do,  and  not  prornife,  than 
to  prornife,  and  not  perform, 

NEVER  do  any  thing  for  your  friends,  that  is  not  con- 
fonant  to  your  honour  and  your  confcience  ;  you  ought  always 
to  prefer  thofe  to  your  friends. 

-WITH  dealing  foot, 


Time  follows  mortals  ;  overtakes  the  fwift  ; 
Stops  the  career  of  youth,  and  clogs  the  wheels 
Of  trembling  age  ;  and  to  one  common  doom 
Brings  kings  andpeafants,  conquerors  and  flares. 

RELIGION'S  force  divine  is  belt  difplay'd 
In  deep  defertion  of  all  human  aid  : 
To  fuccour  in  extremes  is  her  delight, 
And  chear  the  heart,  when  terror  itrikes  the  fight ; 
We,  difbeiieving  our  own  fenfes,  gaze, 
And  wonder  what  a  mortal's  heart  can  raife, 
To  triumph  o'er  misfortunes,  fmile  in  grief, 
And  comfort  thofe,  who  come  to  bring  relief  : 
We  gaze,  and  as  we  gaze,  wealth,  fame  decay, 
And  all  the  world's  vain  glories  fade  away, 

W  E  need  not  travel,  feeking  ways  to  blifs, 
He  that  defires  contentment  cannot  mifs  ; 

No  garden-walls  this  precious  flow'r  embrace, 
It  common  grows  in  ev'ry  defart  place. 

THE  varying  feafons  ev'ry  virtuous  foul 
With  various  pJeafurcs,  in  their  changes  blefs  ; 

Raife  chearful  hopes,  and  anxious  fears  controul, 
*  And  form  a  paradife  of  inward  peace. 

WHEN  conftant  faith,  and  holy  hope  ftiall  die, 
One  loft  in  certainty,  and  one  in  joy; 

n  thou,  more  happy  pow'r.  fair  cfe  titv, 
Triumphant  filler,  greateft  of  the  three, 

B  Tny 


I     H    ) 

Thy  office  and  thy  nature  ftill  the. fame, 
Lailing  thy  lamp,  and  unconfum'd  thy  flame, 
Shalt  itill  furvive — 

Shalt  ftand  before  the  throne  of  Heaven  confert, 
Forever  bleflmg,  and  forever  bleft. 


DEATH  feems  to  enter  a  cottage  only  as  a  gentle  de- 
liverer from  the  miferies  of  human  life  ;  but  into  courts  and  the 
feats  of  grandeur,  with  infult  and  terror.  To  languifh  under 
a  gilded  canopy,  to  expire  on  foft  and  dovvnv  pillows,  and 
give  up  the  ghod  in  ftate,  has  a  more  gloomy  afpecl,  than  at 
the  call  of  nature,  to  expire  on  a  graffy  turf,  and  refign  the 
breathlefs  clay,  back  to  its  proper  element.  What  does  a  crowd 
cf  friends  or  flatterers  fignify  in  that  important  hour,  to  the 
moft  glorious  mortal  ?  Which  of  his  numerous  attendants 
would  fcand  the  arrefi  of  death,  defcend  into  the  filent  prifon 
cf  the  grave  for  him,  or  anfwer  the  fummons  of  the  fupreme 
tribunal  ? 

BEAUTY  is  a  fliort-lived  flower,  which  is  eafily  withered : 
A  cultivated  mind  is  a  treafure,  which  encreafes  every  moment ; 
it  is  a  rich  foil,  which  brings  forth  an  hundred  fold. 

A  PERSON  never  appears  fo  ridiculous  by  the  quali- 
ties he  has,  as  by  thofe  he  affeds  to  have.  He  gains  more  by 
being  contented  to  be  feen  as  he  is,  than  by  attempting  to 
appear  what  he  is  not.  • 

TRUE  greatnefs  of  foul  pays  itfelf,  as  it  were,  with  its  own 
hands,  by  the  fatisfaction  of  doing  good. 

PEOPLE  may  talk  like  good  Chriftians  at  their  eafe  ;  but 
pretty  fentences,  and  formal  fpeeches,  are  very  trifling  reme- 
dies to  a  real  and  unaffected  forrow. 

THAT  little  incendiary,  called  the  tongue,  is  more 
venomous  than  a  poifoned  arrow  ;  snd  more  killing  than  a 
two-edged  fword, 

HOW 


(    '5    ) 

HOW  few  there  are,  that  can  be  freely  kind, 
Or  know  to  fix  their  favours  on  the  mind  ; 
Hence  fome,  whene'er  they  would  oblige,  offend, 
And  while  they  make  the  fortune,  lofe  the  friend. 

KNOW  that  wherever  love  and  virtue  guide, 
They  lead  us  to  the  ftate  of  Heav'nly  bliis, 

Where  joys  unknown  to  guilt  and  fhame  prefide, 
And  pleafures,  unallay'd,  each  hour  encreafe. 

THE  princely  pine,  on  hills  exalted, 
Whofe  lofty  branches  cleave  the  fky, 

By  winds  long-brav'd  at  lad  aftaulted, 
Is  head-long  whirl'd  in  duft  to  lie ; 

Whilft  the  mild  rofe,  more  fafely  growing 
Low  in  its  unafpiring  vale, 

Amidft  retirement's  fhelter  blowing, 
Exchanges  fweets  with  every  gale. 

Imitation  of  the  126th  PSALM, 

1 
WHEN  God  reveal'd  his  gracious  name, 

And  chang'd  my  mournful  ftate, 
My  rapture  feem'd  a  pleafing  dream, 

The  grace  appear'd  fo  great. 

2 
The  world  beheld  the  glorious  change, 

And  did  thine  hand  confefs ; 
My  tongue  broke  out  in  unknown  ftrains, 

And  fung  furprizing  grace. 

Great  is  the  work,  my  neighbours  cry'd, 

And  own'd  the  pow  r  divine ; 
Great  is  the  work,  my  heart  reply 'd, 

And  be  the  glory  thinz  I 

The 


(     i6    ) 

4 

The  Lord  can  change  the  darkeft  Ikies, 
Can  give  us  day  for  night ; 

Make  floods  of  &cred  forrow  rife 
To  rivers  of  delight. 

Let  thofe  that  fow  in  fadnefs  wait, 
'Till  the  fair  harveit  come  ; 

They  fhall  confefs  their  lheaves  are  great, 
And  fliout  the  bleffmgs  home. 


A  MIND  formed  upon  the  principles  of  the  gofpel,  may 
look  down  with  contempt  upon  the  luftre  of  a  throne,  and  yet 
know  the  value,  and  feel  a  fenfe  of  gratitude,  in  the  poffefhon 
of  a  crumb.  The  moil  exalted  fituation  in  the  prefent  life  is 
expofcd ;  yea,  probably  mod  expofed,  to  the  fafcinating  al- 
lurements of  temptation  ;  and  whofoever  fhall  look  needfully 
upon  thofe  who  are  eminent  for  their  riches,  will  not  think 
their  condition  fuch  as  that  he  mould  hazard  his  quiet,  and 
much  lefs  his  virtue,  to  obtain  it.  The  rich  and  the  poor  have 
their  hours  of  forrow,  and  their  intervals  of  joy  ;  neither  poverty 
no.  wealth  exempt  them  from  feeling  the  common  calamities  of 
life,  nor  confer  that  happinefs  we  fo  eagerly  purfue,  but  which 
we  muft  not  experience,  till  our  race  is  rimmed,  and  our  work 
done. 


WHAT  in  this  life,  which  fcon  muft  end, 
Can  all  our  vain  defigns  intend  ? 
From  (bore  to  lhore  why  mould  we  run, 
"Where  none  his  tirefome  felf  can  fhun  ? 
For  baneful  care  will  frill  prevail, 
And  overtake  us  under  fail  : 
'Twill  dodge  the  great  man's  train  behind, 
Outrun  the  doe,   outfly  the  wind. 


INDUSTRY 


(     '7     ) 

INDUSTRY  is  needful  in  every  condition  of  life;  we 
cannot,  without  it,  acl  in  any  ftate  to  the  benefit  or  fatisfa&ion 
of  others,  or  to  our  own  advantage  and  comfort  ;  it  is  requifite 
for  procuring  eafe  and  fatisfaction  to  the  mind  ;  and  if  attended 
with  a  good  confcience,  fweetens  our  enjoyments,  and  feafons 
our  attainments ;  and  is  a  guard  to  innocence,  and  a  bar  to 
temptation. 

A  PERSON  under  the  influence  and  temper  of  the  gofpel, 
will  fay  with  gratitude  and  joy,  "  I  have  learned,  in  whatfoever 
ftate  I  am,  therewith  to  be  con  tent."  In  the  moil  trying 
circumftances,  I  have  a  fure  and  certain  promife,  that  my  bread 
(hall  be  given,  and  my  water  fhall  be  fure  ;  and  if  I  am  not 
favoured  with  all  the  elegancies  of  life,  yet  I  am  confident  that 
the  God  whom  I  ferve,  will  afford  me  fuch  temporary  fupplies, 
as  fhall  be  moil  conducive  to  my  own  happinefs  and  his  glory. 

TRUE  religion  will  fhew  its  influence  in  every  part  of 
our  conduct  ;  it  is  like  the  fap  of  a  living  tree,  which  pene- 
trates to  the  mofi  diflant  boughs. 

ACTION  keeps  the  foul  in  conftant  health,  but  idlenefs 
corrupts  and  rufts  the  mind  ;  for  a  man  of  great  abilities  may 
by  negligence  and  idlenefs  become  fo  ufelefs  as  to  be  an  in- 
cumbrance to  fociety  and  a  burthen  to  himfelf. 

HE  is  the  mod  worthy  of  poflefling  riches,  who  knows 
beft  how  to  do  without  them. 

KEEP  no  company  with  a  man  who  is  given  to  detrac- 
tion ;  to  hear  him  patiently,  is  to  partake  of  his  guilt,  and 
prompt  him  to  a  continuance  in  that  vice  which  all  good  men 
ihun  him  for. 

THOU  malt  not  curfe  the  deaf,  Lev.  xix.  14.  Thofe 
that  are  abfent  are  deaf;  they  cannot  right  themfelves,  and 
therefore  fay  no  ill  of  them. 

HAPPY  are  thofe  who  can  fee  the  beauty  of  virtue  ! — Is  it 
•  to  fee  her,  without  loving  her  ?  Is  it  pofiible  to  love  her, 
bout  being  happy  ?  B  2  Seeking 


(     x8     ) 

Seeking  for  Happiness. 

NOT  all  that  parent  earth  can  give, 
Can  make  her  children  ever  live  ; 
Nor  yet  afford  them  happinefs — 
For  creatures  ne'er  can  truly  blefs. 

If  what  we  drink,  and  what  we  eat. 
Can  never  make  our  blifs  complete — 
To  rich  variety  of  food, 
And  gay  attire,  and  ev'ry  good, 
Give  honour,  titles,  pomp  and  fame, 
With  ev'ry  bleffing  we  can  name  ; 
Give  pleafure,  profit,  knowledge,  eafe, 
Whatever  can  inftrucl:  or  pleafe  ; 
Authority — a  vail  eftate, 
With  all  that  maketh  rich  and  great  ; 
Yet  thefe  could  never  constitute 
A  man  much  happier  than  a  brute  : 
For  while  our  wretched  paflions  reign, 
Felicity  is  fought  in  vain. 

Where  then  mall  happinefs  be  found  ? 
That  lovely,  pleafing,  joyous  found. 
Great  fource  of  blifs !  vouchfafe  to  (hew, 
How  I  this  pearl  of  price  may  know. 

If  grateful  fouls — if  fouls  refign'd 
To  thy  bleft  will,  this  treafure  find, 
To  me,  great  God  !  do  thou  impart, 
A  thankful  and  contented  heart ; 
Drive  far  away  all  diffidence, 
And  give  me,  Lord  !  true  confidence,  J- 
In  thy  unerring  Providence.  J 

Let  all  my  vices  be  fubdu'd, 
Replace  them,  Lord,  with  gratitude  ! 
My  every  want  do  thou  redrefs, 
Give  me,  oh  give  me,  happinefs  ! 


RELIGION,  the  balm  of  life,  the  anchor  of  hope,  the 
difpeller  of  fears,  the  haven  of  reft,  will  carry  us  into  the  arms 
cf  him,  who  is  mighty  to  fave  from  every  trouble  ;  defended 

by 


(     i9     ) 

by  his  fhield,  tho*  afflictions  fpring  not  out  of  the  duft,  they  fhall 
not  hurt  us ;  fupported  by  his  power,  tho'  the  mighty  rage, 
they  fhall  not  prevail  againft  us  ;  guided  by  his  wifdom,  tho' 
fnares  and  evils  encompafs  our  paths,  we  fhall  efcape  them  all. 
In  vain  may  be  our  toil  for  riches  to  fecure  us  ;  but  our  trull  in 
him  will  never  be  in  vain.  The  arrows  of  affliction  may  reach 
the  very  pinnacle  of  greatnefs,  and  cares  and  terrors  climb  up  to 
us,  how  ever  high  we  may  place  ourfelves ;  but  he  is  a  tower  of 
defence,  a  place  of  fafety,  a  rock  of  falvation.  O  then  ! 
amidft  all  the  ftorms,  and  tumults  of  the  world,  give  ear  to  that 
voice  which  fpeaketh  peace,  and  fays,  "  Come  unto  me,  all 
"  ye  that  labour  and  are  heavy  laden,  and  I  will  give  you  reft  ; 
"  take  my  yoke  upon  you,  and  ye  fhall  find  reft  to  your  fouls ; 
"  for  my  yoke  is  eafy,  and  my  burthen  is  light." 


VIRTUE  has  fecret  charms  which  all  men  love; 
And  thofe  that  do  not  choofe  her,  yet  approve. 

TRUE  happinefs — man's  gen'ral  aim  and  end, 
The  point  of  reft  to  which  our  wifhes  tend, 
To  no  externals  ever  was  affign'd, 
But  fixt  the  portion  of  a  fteady  mind  ; 
A  fteady  mind,  that  no  de fires  inflame, 
Still  conftant  to  itfelf,   and  ftill  the  fame  ; 
The  fame  w^hen  fortune  blows  an  adverfe  gale  ; 
The  fame  when  on  a  throne  or  in  a  jail : 
A  mind  that  can  each  mad  excefs  controul, 
Subdue  the  paffions,  and  direct  the  foul ; 
That,  fummon'd,  chearfully  refigns  her  breath, 
Nor  trembles,  anxious  at  th'  approach  of  death* 


Epitaph  upon  Epicletus,  the  Stoic  Philofopher. 

((  EPICTETUS,  who  lies  here,  was  a  flave  and  a  crip- 
cc  pie  ;  poor  as  the  beggar  in  the  proverb,  and  the  favourite  of 
"Heaven." 

In 


(       20      ) 

In  this  diftich  is  comprized  the  nobleft  panegyric,  and  the 
mod  important  inftruftion.  We  may  learn  from  it,  that  virtue 
is  impracticable  in  no  condition,  fince  Epi&etus  could  recom- 
mend himfelf  to  the  regard  of  Heaven,  amidft  the  temptations 
of  poverty  and  flavery.  Slavery  has  been  found  fo  deftru&ive 
to  virtue,  that,  in  fome  languages,  a  flave  and  a  thief  are  ex- 
prefled  by  the  fame  word.  And  we  may  be  admonifhed  by  it, 
not  to  lay  any  ftrefs  on  a  man's  outward  circumftances,  in 
making  an  eftimate  of  his  real  virtue,  fince  Epi&etus  the  beg- 
gar, the  cripple,  and  the  flave,  was  the  favourite  of  Heaven. 

Occafioned  by  a  Recovery  from  a  tedious  Illnefs. 

FATHER  Divine,  Eternal  One  ! 

While  Heav'n  pure  homage  pays, 
From  this  dark  point,  beneath  the  fun, 

Accept  a  mortal's  praife. 
Yet  what's  the  praife  my  breath  can  give  ; 

What's  all  that  I  can  fay, 
But  that  the  God  in  whom  I  live 

Has  giv'n  me  health  to-day  ? 
The  theme  my  voice  in  vain  allays, 

Then  let  my  life  purfue  ; 
Let  what  I  am  record  thy  praife, 

Exprefs'd  in  what  I  do. 
Thee  more  than  all — and  as  myfelf, 

Oh  teach  me  man  to  love  : 
Be  this  my  fame,  my  glory,  wealth, 

My  blifs  below — above  ! 
Nor  let  my  love  to  man  be  vain, 

My  love  to  God  be  blind  ; 
Of  thee  fome  knowledge  let  me  gain, 

Some  bleffing  give  mankind. 
Thro'  ev'ry  change  my  life  may  know, 

My  ebbing,  flowing  tides, 
Firm  be  my  faith,  that  all  below, 

Love,  join'd  with  wifdom,  guidest 
That  e'en  thy  juftice  tends  to  blefs, 

Tho' 


(       21       } 

Tho'  little  underftood  ; 
That  partial  evils  love  exprefs, 

And  work  the  gen'ral  good. 
Put  frail,  alas !  this  mortal  clay, 

This  reafoning  mind  how  frail  I 
Let  ftrength  be  equal  to  my  day, 

Nor  height  nor  depth  prevail. 
When  o'er  my  roof  affiiclion  low'*rs, 

Suftain  my  finking  heart ; 
In  all  my  gay,  unguarded  hours, 

Oh  keep  my  better  part ! 
And  when  this  tott'ring  fabric  falls, 

Affift  my  foul  to  foar, 
Where  full  pofleflion  never  palls, 

To  know  and  love  thee  more. 


THE  ufe  of  learning  is  not  to  procure  pppular  applaufe, 
or  excite  vain  admiration,  but  to  make  the  poiTeflbr  more  vir- 
tuous and  ufeful  to  fociety,  and  his  virtue  a  more  confpicuous 
example  to  thofe  that  are  illiterate. 

WHAT  exalted  mortal,  in  the  Iaft  hour  of  life,  would  not 
refign  all  the  advantages  of  greatnefs  and  power,  for  a  few  mo- 
ments of  leifure  and  obfcurity. 

I F  there  is  any  happinefs  below  the  ftars,  it  confifts  in  a 
freedom  from  the  hurry  and  cenfure  of  the  world,  where  the 
mind  may  devote  all  its  bright  and  ferene  intervals  to  Heaven. 

THE  courfe  of  human  things  is  all  decreed, 
With  each  minuteft  circumftance,  above  : 
No  fickle  chance  ;  no  blind  contingencies  ; 
No  unforefeen  events  arife,  to  crofs 
The  purpofcs  divine, — 

Hope 


(       22       ) 

Hope  travels  through. — Pope. 

THE  fweet  deceiver,  hope,  deiiroys, 
By  airy  vifions,  real  joys  ; 
Each  future  fcene,  by  her  array 'd 
In  brightnefs,  makes  the  prefent  fade  ; 
All  the  long  day  we  wifh  for  night, 
Then  figh  for  the  return  of  light  ; 
Thro'  gloomy  winter's  reign  we  mourn, 
'Till  pleafure-pinion'd  fpring's  return  ; 
But  here,  with  joy lefs  feet,  we  tread 
The  verdant  lawn,  or  painted  mead, 
'Till  fummer  comes — yet  e'en  from  this 
Enjoyment's  fled — the  promised  blifs 
Js  now  poftpon'd,  'till  autumn  fhews 
Her  golden  fields  and  loaded  boughs  ; 
Hither  we  prefs — but  vain  the  chace ! 
The  phantom  flies  with  equal  pace. 
Now  winter  charms — again  it  comes, 
And  her  {till  taflelefs  reign  refumes  ; 
The  trav'ler  thus  thick  milts  enclofe, 
But  feem  to  fly  where  e'er  he  goes. 


HE  is  no  fool,  who  parts  with  that  which  he  cannot  keep, 
when  he  is  fure  to  be  recompenced  with  that  which  he  can- 
not lofe. 

THE  purfuit  of  glory  and  happinefs  in  another  life,  by 
every  means  of  improving  and  exalting  our  own  minds,  be- 
comes more  and  more  intereiiing  to  us3  the  nearer  we  draw  to 
the  end  of  all  fublunary  enjoyments. 

AS  that  God,  whom  we  all  adore,  is  a  God  of  peace  and 
concord,  there  ought  to  be  a  facred  harmony  between  all  that 
profefs  and  believe  in  the  fame  Saviour. 

THEY  mud  certainly  be  perfons  of  narrow  and  mean 
conceptions,  who  (tho'  under  the  malk  of  fuperficial  greatnefs 
of  fpirit)  cannot  raife  their  little  ideas  above  pleafures  familiar 
to  their  fenfes.  BUT 


(       23       ) 

BUT  the  main  firefs  of  all  our  cares  mull  lie, 
To  watch  ourfelves  with  ftrict  and  conftant  eye  : 
To  mark  the  working  mind  when  paffion's  courfe 
Begins  to  fwell,  and  reafon  ftill  has  force  ; 
Or  if  fhe's  conquer *d  by  the  ftronger  tide, 
Obferve  the  moments  when  they  firft  fubfide ; 
For  he  who  hopes  a  victory  to  win 
O'er  other  men,  muft  with  himfelf  begin, 
Elfe  like  a  town,  by  mutiny  opprefs'd, 
He's  ruin'd  by  the  foe  within  his  breafl. 

ARISE  my  foul,  furvey  the  morn, 
And  purple  beauties  of  the  dawn, 

In  order  as  they  fhine ; 
The  herbs  that  with  the  dew-drops  glow, 
Thegrafs,the  fhrubs,  the  flow'rets  mew 

Their  Maker  all  divine  ! 
Hark  how  the  warbling  feather'd  throng 
Now  tune  their  foft  melodious  fong, 

From  ev'ry  leafy  fpray  ; 
The  black-bird  here  with  mellow  throat 
And  there  the  thrufh  with  fofter  note, 

In  concert  pour  the  lay. 
Do  thou  my  foul  refponfive  join, 
Ambitious  of  a  theme  divine, 

And  fing  thy  Maker's  praife  : 
Unnumber'd  objects  he  fupplies, 
For  contemplation's  wandering  eyes. 

And  all  the  Mufes  lays. 

FRIENDSHIP'sa  pure,  a  Heav'n  defcended  Came, 
Worthy  the  happy  region  whence  it  came  ; 
The  facred  tye,  that  virtuous  fpirits  binds, 
The  golden  chain  that  links  immortal  minds. 

,.^>.....0-<S><3e>^SxS>^B><S>-"<>"-0" 

W  E  mould  never  be  over  eager  for  any  thing,  either  in  our 
purfuits  or  our  prayers,  left  what  we  endeavour,  or  afk  too 
violently  for  our  interefl,  fliould  be  granted  us  bv  Providence 
only  in  order  to  our  ruin.  Concluding 


(       24      ) 

Concluding  Stanzas  of  an  Elegy  on  the  Death  of  a  Sifter. 

BUT  lo  !  to  give  the  unhappy  mourners  eafe, 

From  pale  affliction's  eye  to  wipe  the  tear  ; 
To  bid  the  plaintive  voice  of  forrow  ceafe, 

Behold  religion's  Heavenly  form  appear. 
"  Attend  (fhe  cries)  poor  mortal  !  grieve  no  more, 

"  No  more  lament  thy  dear  departed  friends  ; 
"  Their  fouls  are  wafted  to  a  happier  more, 

€€  Where  every  forrow,  every  trouble  ends. 
"  Follow  my  fteps,  and  foon  you'll  meet  again, 

"  Will  meet  in  yonder  blifsful  realms  above  ; 
"  Forever  there  to  join  the  feraph's  ft  rain, 

**  And  fing  the  wonders  of  redeeming  love." 
i 

Nonebut  the  Almighty  author  of  our  beings,  who  knows  our 
inmoft  thoughts  and  defires,  and  from  whom  no  fecrets  ^re  hid, 
can  fee  into  Futurity  :  And  he  only  knows  what  is  beft  and 
mcft  proper  for  us  ;  if  we  cheerfully  rely  on  his  all-wife  Provi- 
dence, and  confidently  truft  in  his  powerful  protection,  we  may 
reft  ourfelves  allured,  that  he,  who  is  our  trueft  friend,  will 
guard  and  fecure  us  from  the  many  evils  and  dangers,  \ 
every  where  furrouna  us.  He  will  guide  and  direct  the  future 
events  of  our  lives  mjuch  a  manner,  as  will  prove,  by  happy 
experience,  to  be  the  moil  conducive  to  our  own  good,  and  the 
moft  confident  with  the  fcheme  of  our  own  happinefs,  both 
here  and  hereafter. 


A  S  fome  fair  vi'let,  lovelieft  of  the  glade, 
Sheds  its  mild  fragrance  on  the  lonely  (hade, 
Withdraws  its  modeft  head  from  public  fight, 
Nor  courts  the  fun,  nor  feeks  the  glare  of  light ; 
Should  fome  rude  hand  prophanely  dare  .intrude, 
And  bear  its  beauties  from  its  native  wood, 
Expos'd  abroad  its  languid  colours  fly, 
Its  form  decays,  and  ail  its  odours  die. 

So 


(  *s  ) 

So  woman  born  to  dignify  retreat, 
Unknown  to  flourifti,  and  unfeen,  be  great  ; 
To  give  domeftic  life  its  fweeteft  charm, 
Witn  foftnefs  polifh,  and  with  virtue  warm  ; 
Fearful  of  fame,   unwilling  to  be  known, 
Shofeld  feek  but  Heaven's  applaufes  and  her  own  ; 
No  cenfures  dread  but  thcfe  which  crimes  impart, 
The  cenfures  of  a  felf- condemning  heart. 
With  angel  kindnefs  ihould  behold  diilrefs, 
And  meekly  pity,  where  fhe  can't  redrefs. 
Like  beaming  mercy  wipe  afflictton's  tear, 
But  to  herfelf,   not  juftice  fo  fevere. 
Her  palfions  all  corre&ed  or  fubdu'd 
But  one — the  virtuous  thirir.  of  doing  good. 
This  great  ambition  ftill  fhe  calls  her  own, 
This  bed  ambition  makes  her  bread  its  throne* 

HAIL  Power  Eternal,  infinite,  immenfe, 
Creator  and  Redeemer,  Lord  of  life, 
All  good,  all  wife,  all  perftd,   aJI  divine! 
Increafe  my  ardour,  elevate  my  foul, 
And  draw  me  from  this  idle,  ufelef*  world, 
To  better  thoughts — the  thoughts  of  that  to  come  ! 
Let  me  not  beg  of  bleTTmgs  from  thy  hand, 
But  for  increafe  of  virtue  :    Gracious  pour 
Thy  Holy  Spirit  on  my  foal  :  fo  make 
Thy  fervant  perfect,  fit  for  Heav  n  and  thee  : 
And  thou  art  good  !  Oh  guide  me  with  thy  hand, 
Cure  all  the  fond,  vain  evils  of  my  heart, 
And  ftifle  every  growing  icily  there  ! 

Oh  !    my  Redeemer,  kindly  condescend 
To  hear  my  prayer  and  grant— yet  wherefore  fpeak! 
If  it  feems  good,  beitow  the  boon  I  wifh  ; 
(  Fhou  knoweft  my  thoughts)  if  net,   thy  will  be  done! 

A  N  humble  man  leans  not  to  his  own  underftandmg,  he  is 
feniible  of  the  deficiency  of  his  own  power  and  wifdom,  and 
truth  not  in  it;  he  is  aifo  fenfible  of  the  all  -fufEcient  power, 
frifdom  and  goodnefs  of  Almighty  God,  and  commit;  him* 
feJfto  him  for  counfel,  guidance,  direction  and  Rreng th. 

C  VIRTUE 


I  26  ) 

VIRTUE  is  the  higheft  exercife  and  improvement  of 
reafon,  the  integrity,  the  harmony  and  jufl  balance  of  affecti- 
on, the  health,  ftrength  and  beauty  of  the  mind. 

WITH  the  talents  of  an  angel  a  man  may  be  a  fool,  if  he 
judges  amifs  in  the  fupreme  point  ;  judging  aright  in  all  elfe 
but  aggravates  his  folly,  as  it  (hews  him  wrong,  though  bleft 
with  the  belt  capacity  of  being  right. 

WHAT  a  great  deal  of  time  and  eafe  that  man  gain?,  who  is 
not  troubled  with  the  fpirit  of  curiouty,  who  lets  his  neigh- 
bours thoughts  and  behaviour  alone,  confines  his  infpecuons  to 
himfelf,  and  takes  care  of  the  point  of  honefty  and  confcience. 

A  MAN  of  true  piety,  that  has  no  defigns  to  carry  on, 
like  one  of  an  eftablifhed  fortune,  always  makes  the  leaft  noife. 
One  never  pulls  out  his  money,  the  other  never  talks  of  religi- 
on, but  when  there  is  occafion  for  it. 

ADVERSITY  does  not  make  merit  lofe  its  name,  it 
ferves  only  as  a  foil  to  virtue. 


RETIREMENT. 

HOW  happy  he  who  crowns,  in  fhades  like  thefe, 
A  youth  of  labour,  with  an  age  of  eafe  ; 
Who  quits  a  world  where  ftrong  temptations  try, 
And  fince  'tis  hard  to  combat,  leajrns  to  fly  ! 
For  him  no  wretches  born,  to  work  and  weep, 
Explore  the  mine,  or  tempt  the  dang'rous  deep  : 
No  furly  porter  ftands,  in  guilty  ftate, 
To  fpurn  imploring  famine  from  the  gate  ; 
But  on  he  moves  to  meet  his  latter  end, 
Angels  around  befriending  virtue's  friend  ; 
Bends  to  the  grave  with  unperceiv'd  decay, 
While  refignation  gently  Hopes  the  way, 
And  all  his  profpects,  brightening  to  the  laft, 
His  Heav'n  commences  e'er  the  world  be  paft ! 

HYMN 


(     27     ) 
HYMN   to  the   E  V  E  N  I  N  G, 

E'ER  the  fun's  declining  ray 

Has  left  yon'  di  ft  ant  fky3 
And  the  parting  ftreak  of  day 

Has  fhut  upon  the  eve — 
Come,  rnodeft  ev'ning,  kindly  fpread 

Thy  dufk-enfabled  veil, 
And  teach  reflective  thought  to  fpread 

Devotion  on  the  brealt. 
Oh  !  lift  the  mind  to  blefs  the  pow'r, 

Whofe  mem 'ry  (till  (hall  laft, 
And  bid  him  fcrve  the  prefent  hour, 

Whofe  madnefs  loft  the  pair. 
Inftruttive,  tell  the  pomp  of  Mate, 

The  pride  of  mighty  blood, 
That  none  are  ever  truly  great, 

That  are  not  truly  good. 
To  all  one  admonition  give, 

Unfearful  of  reply, 
That  he  alone  deferves  to  live, 

Who  belt,  prepares  to  die. 

WHEN  modeft  merit  feems  to  fhun  that  praife 
Th'  admiring  world  to  merit  ever  pays, 
It  takes,  unknowingly,  the  road  to  fame, 
And,  by  declining,  gains  a  furer  name. 

B  E  mine  to  live  in  private  blifs, 
Safe  and  obfcure  in  fome  recefs, 
Since  faction  and  high-minded  ftrife 
But  make  the  peaceful  lake  of  life  ; 
And  better  is  the  little  home, 
Where  confcious  fafety  cheers  the  dome. 


A  Prayer  of  Prince  EUGENE. 

I  BELIEVE  in  thee,  oh  my  God!    do  thou  ftrengthen 
my  faith  \  I  hope  in  thee,  confirm  my  hope  ;  I  love  thee,  in- 
flame 


{       28       ) 

Baffle  my  love  more  and  more:  I  repent  cf  all  my  fins,  but  do 
thou  increafe  my  repentance.  As  my  firft  beginning,  I  wor- 
fliip  thee ;  as  my  laft  end,  I  long  for  thee  ;  as  my  eternal  be- 
nefactor, I  praife  thee ;  and  as  my  fupreme  protector,  I  pray 
imto  thee,  that  it  may  pleafe  thee,  O  Lord !  to  guide  and  lead 
me  by  thy  providence  ;  to  keep  me  in  obedience  to  thy  juijice  ; 
to  comfort  me  by  thy  mercy  ;  and  to  protect  me  by  thy  almigh- 
ty power.  I  fubrnit  unto  thee  all  my  thoughts,  words  and 
deeds,  as  well  as  my  afflictions,  pains  and  fufFerings  ;  and  I 
ciefire  to  have  thee  always  in  my  mind,  to  do  all  my  works  in 
thy  name,  and  for  thy  fake  to  bear  all  adverfity  with  patience. 
I  will  nothing,  but  what  thou  willeft,  O  God  !  becaufe  it  is 
agreeable  unto  thee.  O  give  me  grace,  that  I  may  be  atten- 
tive in  my  prayer,  temperate  in  my  diet,  vigilant  in  my  con- 
duct, and  immoveable  in  all  good  purpofes.  Grant,  incit  mer- 
ciful Lord  !  that  I  may  be  true  and  faithful  to  thofe  who  have 
entrufted  me  with  their  fecrets  ;  that  I  may  be  courteous  and 
kind  towards  all  men  ;  and  that  both  in  my  words  and  acti- 
ons I  may  (hew  unto  them  a  good  example.  Difpofe  my  heart 
to  praife  and  admire  thy  goodnefs ;  to  hate  all  errors  and  evil 
works  ;  to  love  my  neighbour  ;  and  to  defpife  the  world.  Af- 
fift  me,  good  God !  in  fubduing  lull  by  mortification  ;  covet- 
oufnefs  by  liberality  ;  anger  by  mildnefs  ;  and  lukewarmnefa 
by  zeal  and  fervency,  finable  me  to  ccnduci  myfelf  with  pru- 
,  dence  in  all  tranfactiens ;  and  to  fhew  courage  in  danger  :  pa- 
tience in  adverfity ;  and  in  profperity  an  humble  mind.  Let 
thy  grace  illuminate  mv  undemanding  ;  direct,  my  will ;  fane- 
tify  my  body  ;  and  blefs  my  foul.  Make  me  diligent  in  curb* 
ing  all  irregular  affections  ;  zealous  in  imploring  thy  grace  ; 
careful  in  keeping  thy  commandments ;  and  conftant  in  work- 
ing out  my  own  falvation.  Finally,  O  God!  make  me  fen- 
fible,  how  little  is  the  world ;  how  great  thy  Heavens  :  how 
fhort  time  :  and  how  long  will  be  the  olefied  eternity.  O  !  that 
I  may  well  prepare  myfelf  for  death  ;  that  I  may  dread  thy 
judgments ;  that  I  may  avoid  the  torments  of  hell ;  and  ob- 
tain of  thee,  O  God  !  eternal  life,  thro5  the  merits  of  Jefas  Chrifl 
our  Lord.     Amen. 

THERE  is  one  fure  way  of  pleaiing  in  company,  which  is 
in  everv  one's  power  to  pr^cufe^  viz,  Slewing  a  difpofiticn  to 
:itid>  IT 


(     *9    ) 

I  T  often  happens,  that  thofe  are  moil  defirous  of  go- 
verning others,  who  are  leaft  able  to  govern  themfelves. 

I T  is  indeed  a  ferious  thing  to  die  ;  but  virtue  difarms  the^ 
gloomy  king  of  all  his  terrors,  and  brightens  the  profpect  of 
futurity. 

SENECA  fays,  there  is  no  difference  betwixt  poffefUng 
a  thing  and  not  defiring  it. 


VAIN  are  all  forms  prefcrib'd  by  art, 
All  outward  modes  of  worihip  vain  ; 

An  honeft,  gen'rous,  pious  heart, 
Can  only  true  acceptance  gain. 

FAREWELL,  ye  vain,  I  hate  your  ways, 

Ye  grov'ling  fons  of  pride,  adieu  ; 
Poor  av'rice,  how  thy  hope  decays  ! 

Thy  fteps  I  tremble  to  purfue. 
To  Sion's  hill  I  lift  my  eye, 

To  Sion's  hill  direct  my  feet ; 
From  all  things  learn  to  live  and  die, 

From  all  the  vile  and  vain  retreat. 


The  character  of  the  Lady  of  one  of  the  antient  Earls  of  Weft* 
moreland,  written  by  her  hufband,  and  infcribed  in  the 
chimney-wall  of  a  large  room,  at  Buditone  Place,  in  Kent, 
once  the  feat  of  that  noble  family. 

SHE  feared  God,  and  knew  how  to  ferve  him ;  the  at 
figned  times  for  her  devotion,  and  kept  them  :  fhe  was  a  perfect 
wife,  and  a  true  friend  ;  fhe  joyed  moll  to  oblige  thofe  neareit 
and  deareft  to  me  ;  fhe  was  Hill  the  fame,  ever  kind  and  never 
troublefome ;  often  preventing  my  deli  res ;  difputing  none; 
providently  managing  all  that  was  mine  ;  living  in  appearance 
above  mine  eftate,  while  (he  advanced  it ;  fhe  was  of  a  great 

C  z  fpirit  \ 


(     3°    ) 

Ipirit ;  f weedy  tempered  ;  of  a  fharp  wit;  without  offence  ; 
of  excellent  fpeech  ;  blefl  with  filence  ;  of  a  chearful  temper ; 
mildly  governed ;  of  a  brave  fafhion  to  win  refpecl,  and  to 
daunt  boldnefs  ;  pleaiing  to  all  of  her  fex  ;  intimate  with  few  ; 
delighting  in  the  beft  ;  ever  avoiding  all  perfons  and  places  in 
their  honour  blemifhed;  and  was  as  free  from  doing  ill  as 
giving  the  occafion.  She  died  as  fhe  lived,  well ;  and  bleft  in  the 
greateft  extremity ;  moil  patiently  fending  forth  her  pure  foul 
with  many  zealous  prayers  and  hymns  to  her  Maker  ;  pour- 
ing out  her  affectionate  heart  in  paffionate  ftreams  to  her  Sa- 

N.  B.    The  beginning  and  ending  of  this  infeription  being 
defaced  by  time,  the  date  is  uncertain. 

MAN  may,  in  fcenes  of  ev'ry  kind, 
Fit  iefibns  of  inftrutticn  find  : 
The  bird,  for  injury  and  wrong, 
Repays  th'  oppreffor  with  a  fong  ; 

!  blufh  to  think,  that,  Heav'n  infpir'd, 
Thy  breafl  mould  be  with  malice  fir'd  ! 
Learn  hence  thy  pamon  to  reflrain, 
And  ilill  that  god-like  rule  maintain, 
To  feek  no  vengeance  on  a  foe, 
£ut  blcfs  the  hand  that  gives  the  blow. 


I  F  you  defire  to  live  in  peace  and  honour,  in  favour  with. 
God  and  man,  and  to  die  in  the  glorious  hope  of  rifing  from 
the  grave  to  a  life  of  endlefs  happinefs — if  thefe  things  appear 
Worthy  your  ambition,  you  mull  fet  out  in  earneft  in  the  pur- 
fuit  of  thenv  Virtue  and  happinefs  are  not  attainable  by 
chance,  nor  by  a  cold  and  languid  approbation  ;  they  mull  be 
fought  with  ardour,  attended  to  with  diligence,  and  every  af- 
fiilance  muft  be  eagerly  embraced  that  may  enable  you  to  ob- 
tain them. 

TO 


(     3i     ) 

T  O  take  fincere  pleafure  in  the  bleflings  and  excellencies 
c*f  others,  is  a  much  furer  mark  of  benevolence  than  to  pity 
their  calamities. 

E  QJU  ALLY  vain  and  abfurd  is  every  fcheme  of  life  that 
is  not  fubfervient  to,  and  does  not  terminate  in  that  great  end 
of  our  being,  the  attainment  of  real  excellence,  and  of  the  fa- 
vour of  God.  Whenever  this  becomes  fincerely  our  object, 
then  will  pride  and  vanity,  envy,  ambition,  covetoufnefs, 
and  every  evil  paflion,  lofe  their  power  over  us  ;  and  we  (hall, 
in  the  language  of  fcripture,  "  walk  humbly  with  our  God," 


Extract  from  a  Poem  called  antient  and  modern  Rome. 

REFLECTION  hath  its  joy,  a  penfive  calm 
That  fhrouds  the  foul,   and  bears  it  on  the  wings 
Of  vagrant  thought,  to  memory's  wide  domain  ! 
Now  let's  indulge  it,  while  wve  here  remark 
The  mad  career  of  fortune,  and  behold 
Imperial  Rome,  'midft  all  her  triumphs,  fall'n  ! 
So  clofes  ev'ry  fcene,  and  thus  decay 
The  works  of  man — allow'd  a  little  fpace 
To  fhine,  attract,  then  fade,  and  be  forgot ! 
For  fee  the  paths  that  lead  to  pow'r,  and  fame, 
And  thofe  which  feel  the  peafant's  filent  ftep, 
End  in  one  point  ;  obferve  ambition's  flight, 
And  laugh  at  all  the  wild  fantaflic  dreams 
Of  human  folly.     Seeking  then  thy  arms, 
Oh,  virtue  !  let  us  court  thee  as  our  good  ; 
Our  only  treafure,  and  our  only  hope  ; 
Our  fhield,  to  guard  us  'gainft  a  faithlefs  world, 
And  all  its  poifon'd  arrows  :    Thou  unhurt, 
Sprung  from  immortal  truth,  ferenely  bright, 
Suftain'ft.  the  general  wreck  ;   and  like  the  fun 
Shalt  Hill  appear  with  undiminifh'd  light, 
When  all  the  boafted  monuments  of  pride 
Shall  fink,  and  mingle  with  the  dull  they  hid  ! 

HABITUAL 


{     S«     ) 

HABITUAL  evils  are  not  quickly  chang'd  ; 
But  many  days  mufl  pafs,  and  many  forrows, 
Confcious  remorfe,  and  anguilh  muft  be  felt, 
To  curb  defire,  to  break  the  flubborn  will, 
And  work  a  fecond  nature  in  the  foul, 
'Ere  virtue  can  refume  the  place  fhe  loft  : 
'Tis  elfe  dhTimulation. 


I N  the  works  of  man,  perfection  is  aimed  at,  but  it  can  only 
be  found  in  thofe  of  the  Creator. 

C  O  N  S  C I  E  N  C  E  is  the  law  of  the  all- wife  author  of  na- 
ture, written  on  our  hearts,  or  properly  the  application  of  this 
law,  as  it  regards  the  judgments  we  fhould  form  of  particular 
actions. — It  is  like  a  cenfor  noting  and  obferving  our  actions, 
and  therefore  it  has  not  undefervedly  been  called  by  fome  a  por- 
tion of  the  virgin  foul,  as  not  admitting  the  leaft  blemifh  of 
prevarication.  Hence  good  actions  beget  fecuritv  in  the  con- 
science, but  bad  caufe  anguifh  and  vexation,  which  is  better 
known  by  experience  than  explained  by  words  :  For,  if  it  is 
painful  to  us  to  abide  by  the  judgments  of  thofe  we  live  with, 
and  to  put  up  with  their  reprehenfions,  it  will  be  more  fo  to 
be  condemned  by  our  own  reafon,  and  to  carry  about  us  fo  fe- 
vere  a  judge  of  our  actions.  And  thus  it  is,  that  confcience 
performs  the  function  both  of  a  witnefs  and  judge,  when  it  re- 
primands us  for  having  done  amifs,  as  Juvenal  fays 

Not  fharp  revenge,  nor  hell  itfelf  can  find 
A  fiercer  torment  than  a  guilty  mind  ; 
Which  day  and  night  does  dreadfully  accufe, 
Condemns  the  wretch,  and  Hill  the  charge  renews, 

RICHES,   alas  !  are  tranfient  things, 

And  titles  but  an  airy  dream  ; 
Our  pleasures  flow  from  nobler  fprings, 

And  give  more  lafting  peace  than  them. 
Leufordid  mortals  hope  for  wealth, 

This  never  fhall  my  pray'r  employ  ; 
Give  me  but  competence  and  health, 

I  envy  not  their  fhort-liv'd  joy.  PRIDE 


(     33     ) 
PRIDE  and  HUMILITY. 

MARK  how  the  ftately  tree  difdainfiil  rears 
His  tow 'ring  head,  and  mingles  with  the  clouds! 
Bat  by  his  fatal  height  the  more  expos'd 
To  all  the  fury  of  the  raging  ftorm  ; 
His  honours  fly,  the  fyon  of  angry  winds, 
'Till  the  ioud'blait,  with  direful  itroke,  defcends  : 
Torn  from  his  bafis,  lew  on  earth  he  lies, 
And  the  hills  echo  to  the  founding  fall. 
So  pride  with  haughty  port,  defies  in  vain 
The  force  of  rough  adverfity,  which  rends, 
With  double  violence,  the'itubborn  heart. 

But  like  a  tender  plant  humility 
Bends  low  before  the  threat  ning  blafl:,  unhurt 
Eludes  its  rage,  and  lives  through  all  the  ftorrrt 

Pride  is  the  liv'ry  of  the  prince  of  darknefs, 
Worn  by  his  (laves,  who  glory  in  their  fhame  ; 
A  gaudy  drefs,  but  tarninYd,  rent,  and  foul, 
And  loathfome  to  the  holy  eye  of  Heav'n. 

But  fweet  humility,  a  mining  robe, 
Beftow'd  by  Heav'n  upon  its  fav  rite  fons  ; 
The  robe  which  God  approves,  and  angels  wear  ; 
Fair  'femblance  of  the  glorious  prince  of  light, 
Who  ftoop'd  to  dwell  (divine  humility  !) 
With  finfu!  worms,  and  poverty,  and  fcorn. 
Pride  is  the  fource  of  difcord,  ftrife  and  war, 
And  all  the  endlefs  train  of  heavy  woes 
Which  wait  on  wretched  man  !  the  direful  fling 
Of  envy,  and  the  dreaded  frowns  of  fcorn, 
And  gloomy  difcontent,  and  black  defpair. 

But  fweet  humility,  the  fource  of  peace, 
Of  amity  and  love,  content  and  joy  ; 
Where  fhe  ref.des  a  thoufand  bleffings  wait 
To  gild  our  lives,  and  form  a  Heav'n  below. 

Pride  leads  her  wretched  vot'ries  to  contempt* 
To  certain  ruin,  infamy  and  death. 

But  fweet  humility  points  out  the  way 
To  happinefs,  and  life,  and  lading  honours. 


Humility 


(     3+     ) 

Humility,  how  glorious !  how  divine  ! 
Thus  cloath'd  and  thus  enrich'd,  O  may  I  mine  ; 
Be  mine  this  treafure,  this  cdeitial  robe, 
And  let  the  fons  of  pride  poiTefs  the  globe. 

WHAT  walls  can  bound,  or  what  compelling  rein 
Th*  ungovernM  luft  of  avarice  reitrain  ? 
Wealth  he  has  none,  who  mourns  his  (canty  (lore, 
And  'midit  of  plenty  ftarves,  and  thinks  he's  poor. 

WHEN  UlyrTes  entrufted  the  education  of  his  fon  to  the 
nobles  of  Ithaca,  **■  O  my  friends,"  faid  he,  "  if  ever  you 
"  loved  his  father,  fhew  it  in  your  care  towards  him  ;  but 
*•  above  all,  do  not  omit  to  form  him  juft,  fincere,  and  faith- 
"  ful  in  keeping  a  fecret." 

THE  fureft  way  to  purchafe  happinefs,  rauft  be,  to  let  as 
little  of  our  time  as  poliible  flip  away  unobferved  and  unim- 
proved. 

V  A  R I O  U  S  are  the  innocent  diverfions  of  life,  by  which 
we  may  lengthen  time  in  general,  and  prevent  any  part  of  it  to 
be  ufelefs,  or  tedious. 

BEFORE  you  make  an  abfolute  promife,  weigh  all  the 
confequences  of  keeping  it  :  but,  when  once  you  have  made 
it,  let  the  circumftances  be  important,  or  ever  fo  trifling,  hold 
it  as  facred  ;  and  never  be  influenced  to  break  it,  unlefs  the 
making  it  good  prove  injurious  to  virtue. 

THE  table  of  a  good  ceconomift,  is  always  attended  with 
neatnefs,  plenty  and  chearfulnefs.  When  we  have  provided 
enough  to  maintain  us,  in  the  order  fuitable  to  our  charac- 
ter, we  ought  to  be  proportionably  hofpitable  ;  but  the  more 
we  live  within  decent  bounds,  the  more  of  our  fortune  may 
be  converted  to  noble  ufes* 


HE 


(     35     ) 

H  E  that  keeps  not  open  a  conftant  intercourfe  with  Hea- 
ven, bv  frequent  fervors  of  rational  devotion,  knows  not  the 
fublimeft  joy. 

THERE  are  attractions  in  modeft  diffidence,  above  the 
force  of  words.  A  filent  addrefs  is  the  genuine  eloquence  of 
finceritr. 


W  H  O  look  on  difappointments,  toils  and  ftrife, 
And  all  the  confequential  ills  of  life, 
Not  as  feverities,  or  caufelefs  woes, 
But  eafy  terms  indulgent  Heav'n  allows 
To  man,  by  fhort  probation  to  obtain 
Immortal  recompence  for  tranfient  pain  ; 
The  intent  of  Heav'n,  thus  rightly  underilood, 
From  ev'ry  evil  we  extract  a  good  ; 
This  truth  divine,  implanted  in  the  heart, 
Supports  each  drudging  mortal  thro5  his  part ; 
Gives  a  delightful  profpect  to  the  blind, 
The  friendlefs  thence  a  conftant  fuccour  find ; 
The  wretch,  by  fraud  betray 'd,  by  power  opprefs'd, 
With  thib  reftorative,  (till  fooths  his  bread  ; 
This  fuffering  virtue  chears,  this  pain  beguiles, 
And  decks  calamity  herfelf  in  fmiles. 


WHEREVER  a  great  deal  of  gratitude  is  found  in  a 
poor  man,  it  may  be  taken  for  granted  there  would  be  as 
much  generofity,  if  he  were  a  rich  man. 

ADDISON,  after  a  long  and  manly,  but  vain  ftruggle 
with  his  diftemper,  difmilfed  his  phylicians,  and  with  them  all 
hopes  of  life  ;  but  with  his  hopes  of  life,  hedifmiiTed  not  his  con- 
cern for  the  living,  but  fent  for  a  youth  nearly  related  and 
finely  accomplifhed,  but  not  above  being  die  better  for  good 
impreffions  from  a  dying  friend  ;  he  came,  but  life  now  glim- 
mering in  the  focket,  the  dying  friend  was  filent ;  after  a  de- 
cent 


(    3<S    > 

cent  and  proper  paufe,  the  youth  faid,  <c  dear  fir!  you  fent 
4i  for  me  I  believe,  and  I  hope  that  you  have  feme  commands; 
ie  if  you  have,  I  fhall  hold  them  moil  facred."  May  diftant 
ages  not  only  hear  but  feel  the  reply  ! — Forcibly  grafping 
the  youth's  hand,  he  foftly  faid,  "  fee  in  what  peace  a  Chrif- 
ie  tian  can  die."  He  fpoke  with  difficulty,  and  foon  expired. 
Thro'  grace  divine,  how  great  is  man !  thro'  divine  mer- 
cy howftinglefs  death!  who  would  not  thus  expire  ? 


B  L  E  S  T  folitude  !  how  fweet  thy  peaceful  fcenes  ! 

Where  contemplation's  vot'ries  love  to  ftray ; 
Where  in  her  fapient  drefs,  religion  reigns, 

And  mines  more  fplendid  than  the  noontide  ray, 

LET  angry  zealots  quarrel  for  a  name, 
The  good,  the  juft,  the  virtuous  are  the  fame  ; 
Virtue  and  grace  are  not  to  fects  confin'd, 
They  blend  with  all,  and  fpread  amongft  mankind. 
And  the  pure  flame  that  warms  the  pious  bread, 
Thofe  cannot  merit  who  condemn  the  reft. 

THE  terms  of  charity  are  never  hard, 
Love  and  companion  are  their  own  reward ; 
A  foul  that  fuecours  virtue  when  diftreft, 
Can  with  reflection  make  a  noble  feaft, 
Which  nourifhes  the  mind,  and  overpays 
A  gen'rous  deed  with  felf-approving  praife. 


WHAT  can  the  man  fear,  who  takes  care  in  all  his  ac- 
tions to  pleafe  a  Being  that  is  omnipotent  r — A  Being  who  is 
able  to  crum  all  his  adversaries  ? — Ageing  that  can  divert  any 
misfortune  from  befalling  him,  or  turn  any  fuch  misfortune 
to  his  advantage  r  The  perfon  who  lives  with  this  conftant 
and  habitual  regard  to  the  great  fuperintendant  of  the  world, 
is  indeed  fure  that  no  real  evil  can  come  into  his  lot.  Blef- 
fm£3  may  appear  under  the  ftiape  of  pains,  loiTes  ?-.rA  disap- 
pointments ;  but  let  him  have  patience,  and  he  will  fee  them 

in 


(     37     ) 

in  their  proper  figures.  Dangers  may  threaten  him,  but  he 
may  reft  fatisfied,  that  they  will  either  not  reach  him,  or 
that  if  they  do,  they  will  be  the  inftruments  of  good  to  him. 
In  fhort,  he  may  look  upon  all  erofles  and  accidents,  fufrer- 
ings  and  afflictions,  as  means  which  are  made  ufe  of  to  bring 
him  to  happinefs. 

ALL  the  ways  of  growing  rich,  are  equal  to  perfons  gree- 
dy of  gain.  Riches,  in  their  efteem,  obtain  the  place  of  equity, 
reputation,  their  friends,  relations,  and  frequently  their  God* 


THE    WISH. 

I  ASK  not  fortune's  partial  fmile, 

Exhauftlefs  fource  of  care; 
Not  all  her  fancied  gay  delights 

Can  claim  a  ferious  prayer. 
Nor  pleafure's  foft  alluring  form, 

With  ardent  wifh  I  feek  ; 
Far  Jefs  the  captivating  bloom 

That  glows  on  beauty's  cheek* 
I  afk  not,  that  in  calm  repofe 

My  even  days  may  flow, 
Unruffled  by  adverfity, 

Exempt  from  human  woe. 
Enough  that  no  reflections  keen, 

No  crimes  my  foul  opprefs, 
To  rob  me  of  the  flattering  hope 

Of  future  happinefs. 
But  grant  me  that  bleft  frame  of  mind, 

Where  no  vain  thoughts  intrude  ; 
That  blefr  ferenity  which  fprings 

From  confeious  re&itude. 

THE  love  of  pleafure  has  fo  blinded  the  eyes  of  the  prefent 
age,  that  they  cannot  fee  clearlv  the  fatisfaftioa  -of  a  pure  and 
rational  life,  'JD  WHEN 


(     38     } 

WHEN  you  fee  the  choler  of  a  friend  begin  to  kindle,  if 
you  would  do  good,  throw  water  thereon  to  cool,  not  wood 
to  inflame  it. 

NO  fimple  cuflom  is  more  blamable,  than  that  of  lying 
fhut  up  in  the  arms  of  floth  and  darknefs,  when  the  cheerful 
return  of  day  invites  the  whole  creation  to  joy  and  bufinefs. 
Sleep,  any  further  than  as  it  is  a  neceffary  refrefhment,  is  the 
poorefl,  dulleft  ftate  of  exiftence  we  can  be  in  ;  and  it  is  fo  far 
from  being  a  real  enjoyment,  that  it  bears  the  neareft  refem- 
blance  of  death,  and  carries  all  the  horrors  of  oblivion  in  it. 
We  are  forced  to  receive  it,  either  in  a  Hate  of  infenfibility,  or 
in  the  delufive  folly  of  dreams.  Sleep,  when  too  much  hu- 
moured, gives  a  foftnefs^and  idlenefs  to  all  our  tempers ;  and  no 
iluggifh  perfon  can  be  qualified,  or  difpofed,  to  enter  into  the 
true  fpirit  of  prayer,  or  the  exercife  of  any  active  virtue. 

I  T  is  not  when  misfortunes  come  upon  us,  the  time  to  fet 
about  the  philofophy.  of  bearing,  or  the  refignation  of  fub- 
mitting  to  them ;  it  is  in  health  we  mould  prepare  ourfelves 
againft  ficknefs. 

I  F  affectation  could  be  entirely  banifhed,  how  few,  in  com- 
parifon  with  the  prefent  ftate  of  things,  would  be  the  number 
of  prepofterous  miftakes. 

THE  niceft  rule  in  ceconomy,  is  to  make  our  being  one 
uniform  and  confident  fcene  of  innocent  pleafures,  and  mode- 
rate cares  ;  and  not  to  be  tranfported  with  joy  on  occafions  of 
good  fortune,  or  too  much  dejected,  in  circumftances  of  dif- 
trefs. 

VAGRANT  defires,  and  impertinent  mirth,  will  be  too 
apt  to  engage  our  minds,  unlefs  we  can  poffefs  ourfelves  in 
that  fobriety  of  heart,  which  is  above  all  tranfient  pleafures, 
and  which  will  fix  our  affections  on  things  above. 


B  E  H  O  L  D,  fond  man  ! 

See  here  thy  piclur'd  life  :  Pafs  fome  few  years ; 

Thy  flow 'ring  fpring,  thy  fummer';  ardent  ftrength,       Thy 


(     39    ) 

Thy  fober  autumn  fading  into  age, 

And  pale-concluding  winter  comes  at  lad 

And  fhuts  the  fcene. — Ah  !  whither  now  are  fled, 

Thofe  dreams  of  greatnefs  ?  thofe  unfolid  hopes 

Of  happinefe  ?  thofe  longings  after  fame  ? 

Thofe  reftlefs  cares  ?  thofe  bufy  buftFing  days  ? 

Thofe  gay-fpent  feflive  nights  ?  thofe  varying  thoughts 

Loft  between  good  and  ill,  that  fhar'd  thy  life  ? 

All  now  are  fled !  Religion  fole  remains 

Immortal,  never-failing  friend  of  man, 

His  guide  to  happinefs  on  high. 

I  F  people  took  as  much  pains  to  be  good,  as  they  do  to 
appear  fo,  they  would,  through  grace,  bring  about  their  purpofe, 

GOD  the  Lord  and  Father  of  all,  has  given  no  one  of  his 
children  fuch  a  property  in  his  peculiar  portion  of  the  things 
of  this  world,  but  that  he  has  given  his  needy  brother  a  right 
in  the  furplufage  of  his  goods ;  fo  that  it  cannot  juilly  be  de- 
nied him,  when  his  prefhng  wants  call  for  it, 

WHO  i*  wife  ?  He  that  learns  from  every  one.  Who  is 
powerful  ?  He  that  governs  his  paflions.  Who  is  rich  ?  He 
that  is  content. 


FI X  '  D  in  the  fhade  of  this  imperfect  ftate, 
JTis  ours,  fubmiflive,  better  fcenes  to  wait, 
And  plaintive  mufing  on  each  various  pain, 
Or  o;er  the  pebbly  brook  or  on  the  plain  ; 
In  love  with  nature,  let  us,  while  we  flay, 
To  nature's  parent  true  devotion  pay  ; 
By  him  foon  fummon'd,  ihall  we  take  our  flight, 
Far  to  the  realms  of  uncreated  light. 

TRANSPORTING  period !  when  wilt  thou  appear  ? 
Thou  blifsful  dawn  of  that  immortal  day, 

That 


(     40     ) 

That  ne'er  (hall  fee  a  dutky  ev'ning  fpread 

To  veil  its  light;  which  ne'er  lhali  need  the  fun, 

Nor  ftars,  nor  glimm'ring  moon,  to  cheer  its  made. 

Ye  fair  inhabitants  of  blifsful  feats, 
Unfold  your  golden  gates,  and  call  me  hence ; 
Sick  of  this  mortal  ftate,  this  round  of  error, 
Of  darknefs  and  rniflake,  I  long  for  reft. 

THY  force  alone,  religion,  death  difarms, 
Breaks  all  his  darts,  and  every  viper  charms. 
Soften'd  by  thee,  the  grifly  form  appears 
No  more  the  horrid  object  of  our  fears. 
We,  undifmay'd,  this  awful  pow'r  obey, 
That  guides  us  thro'  the  fafe,  tho'  gloomy  way, 
Which  leads  to  life. 


THE  advantages  of  frequent  thoughts  of  death  are  certain- 
ly unfpeakable  ;  and  molt  erroneous  is  the  notion,  that  gloomi- 
nefs  mult  be  the  confequence  of  fuch  meditation. 

I  T  mod  certainly  becomes  us,  as  we  are  rational  and  mor- 
tal, to  consider  the  high  things  expected  of  us  as  rationals  ;  and 
the  haite  we  ought  to  make  in  accomplilhing  them  as  we  are 
mortal ;  and  it  would  befpeak  us  wife,  as  we  ourfelves  would 
receive  the  benefit,  if  we,  with  great  ferioufnefs  and  attention, 
pondered  over  and  meditated  upon  that,  which  rruft,  'ere  long, 
be  our  lot  ;  that  hour,  which  high  and  low,  rich  and  poor, 
mull  all  arrive  at  ;  and  by  which  the  beggar  and  the  prince 
will  be  levelled  with  the  duft. 

LET  prudence  always  attend  your  pleafures  ;  it  is  the  way 
to  enjoy  the  fweets  of  them,  and  not  to  be  afraid  of  the  confe- 
quences. 

COMPANY  and  cheerfulnefs  are  neceflary,  and  of  ufe  ; 
but  a  conftant  courfe  of  mirth  betrays  fuch  a  levity  of  mind, 
that  your  prefence  will  never  be  defired,  but  to  divert  others, 
whofe  regard  ceafes  the  inftant  the  laughter  is  over;  and  Ihould 
your  wit  offend,  you  may  be  allured  of  aa  enemy. 


(     41      ) 

I  F  you  have  any  good  quality,  do  not  make  eulogiums  your- 
felf  upon  it,  as  it  will  not  be  credited  upon  your  word  only. 

WE  have  to  do  with  one  whofe  power  is  unbounded,  whofe 
knowledge  is  infinite,  aud  whofe  juftice  is  perfect  ;  therefore 
from  him  we  can  hide  no  guilt ;  we  can  fly  to  no  place  of  de- 
fence, nor  can  we  expect  acceptance,  but  in  the  paths  of  reafon 
and  religion  ;  in  them  we  mail  rind  the  higheft  plcafure,  and  join 
to  the  cheerful  enjoyment  of  the  things  of  this  world,  the  prof- 
peel:  of  a  continuance  and  encreafe  of  pleafures  when  this  world 
has  no  more  to  give. 


SHORT  is  the  date  and  narrow  is  the  fpan, 
Which  bounds  the  little  life  of  foolifh  man. 
Gay  fcenes  of  blifs  the  ravilh'd  foul  furprize, 
Raife  his  vain  hopes,  and  glitter  in  his  eyes  ; 
Of  fwelling  titles  he  fupinelv  dreams, 
Vail  are  his  projects,  and  refin'd  his  fchemes  ; 
But  when  his  morning  views  of  joy  are  pair, 
The  melancholy  ev'ning  comes  at  laft ; 
The  tyrant,  death,  a  haily  furnmons  fends, 
And  all  his  momentary  glory  ends. 

SINCE  then  old  time  fteals  all  away. 
Take  heed  the  funfhine  of  your  day 

Nought  but  true  joys  may  find  : 
To  proper  ufe  apply  what's  fent  ; 
For  know  no  beauty's  permanent, 

But  beauty  of  the  mind. 


THE  life  of  man  is  compared  to  the  herbage  of  the  field, 
but  a  fhadow  is  a  more  linking  emblem  ;  and  the  Hux  of  time, 
rreafured  by  a  fhadow,  is  a  leffon  that  teaches  us  the  necefTity 
of  preparing  ourfelves  for  a  more  permanent  ftate. 

A  S  too  long  a  retirement  weakens  the  mind,  fo  too  much 
company  diffipates  it.     It  is  good  fome times  to  recoiled  one's 
D  2  felf  5 


(      42       ) 

felf ;  nay,  it  is  even  neceflary  to  give  an  exaft  account  of  one's 
words  and  thoughts  to  one's  felf ;  and  of  the  progrefs  we  have 
made  in  wifdom.  A  man  that  would  reap  the  fruits  of  reading 
and  converfation,  and  improve  by  what  he  has  feen,  muft  be 
no  flranger  to  filence,  repofe  and  meditation. 

A  S  arrogance  and  conceitednefs  of  our  own  abilities  are 
Yery  diiguitful  to  men  of  fenfe  and  virtue  we  may  be  lure  they 
are  highly  difpleafmg  to  that  being  who  delights  in  an  humble 
mind. 

THE  reproofs  of  a  relation  may  be  thought  to  proceed 
from  an  affectation  of  fupericrity  ;  of  an  enemy,  from  a  fpiric 
of  malice  ;  and  of  an  indifferent  perfon,  from  pride  or  imper- 
tinence,- and  fo  be  flighted  :  But  when  they  come  from  one 
who  loves  us,  and  come  armed  with  all  the  tender  concern  that 
an  unfeigned  affection  is  known  to  dictate,  they  ought  of  courie 
to  take  effect,  and  become  irrefiftible. 

I  T  is  pofTible  to  be  happy  in  the  abfence  of  all  that  peo- 
ple call  amufement  and  diverfion.  When  the  mind  is  in  a 
iituation  fuperior  to  the  changing  fcenes  below  the  fun,  in  pur- 
foit  of  boundlefs  and  immortal  blifs,  the  foul,  with  a  noble  free- 
dom, afcends  the  cekftial  heights,  in  fearch  of  its  great  ori- 
ginal, the  fountain  of  its  exiftence,  and  centre  of  all  its  hopes. 


-o  •  «xs^  <s><s 


ON    CONTENTMENT. 

O   THOU!   whofe  pow'r  can  fnarpeft  grief  affuage, 
•Or  ft  op  the  torrent  of  impetuous  rage  ; 
Contentment,  hear;    Oh  liflen  to  my  ftrain! 
Nor  let  the  mufe  implore  thy  aid  in  vain ; 
Teach  me  thro'  life's  advent'rous  paths  to  go, 
T*  enjoy  the  good,. and  calmly  bear  the  woe  ; 
To  view  unmov'd  the  mifer's  hoarded  ftore, 
Without  a  figh,  or  greedy  wifh  for  more  ; 
To  fcorn  the  pomp,  and  pageantry  of  ftate, 
The  empty  {hew,  and  tides  of  the- great, 

Grant 


(     43     ) 

Grant  me  to  live  a  peaceful,  rural  life, 
Remote  from  envy  and  tumultuous  ftrife  ; 
1  here  may  1  pafs  each  hour  by  virtue's  rules, 
Nor  vainly  feek  th'  applauding  breath  of  fools. 

GLIDE  on  fee u rely,  wifely  tread, 
The  paths  where  truth  and  virtue  lead. 
It  matters  not  how  great  the  man, 
If  all's  conhn'd  to  life's  fhort  fpan  ; 
It  matters  not  how  rich  or  poor, 
Peace  is  no  gift  in  human  pow'r  ; 
They  find  her  who  contented  dwell 
In  the  cool  grot  or  moify  cell. 


T  O  keep  the  pafTions  of  others  fubmin^ive,  there  is  a  necef- 
fity  of  triumphing  over  one's  own  ;  to  oblige  them  to  be  vir- 
tuous, one  muft  fet  the  example  and  be  the  model  :  There  is 
not  a  better  leffon  than  that,  which  a  fuperior  makes  it  his  duty 
to  pradife. 

THERE  is  fo  great  a  grace  and  authority  in  virtue,  that 
it  never  fails  to  attract  the  efteem  even  of  thofe  that  are  moil 
abandoned  to  vice  and  immorality  ;  fo  that  religion,  by  its 
own  authority,  and  the  reafonable  force  of  it,  is  furncent  to 
eftablifh  its  empire  in  the  mind  of  any  thinking  perfon. 

LET  your  expectations  be  higher  than  any  dignity  or  en- 
joyment this  world  can  boaft.  Let  a  celefiial  crown  iire  your 
ambition  ;  and  in  the  purfuit  of  infinite  happinefs,  grafpat  no- 
thing below  the  glories  of  immortality.  With  what  a  divine 
ambition  does  the  profpecl  of  Heavenly  joys  infpire  the  foul. 
If  you  are  reckoned  by  any  of  the  gay  and  giddy  world  the  lefs 
polite  for  entertaining  fuch  exalted  thoughts  of  pleafure,  be 
content  in  being  unfafhionably  good,  iince  thereby  you  can 
keep  your  peace  ;  be  fearlefs  and  open  to  the  infpeclion  of 
Heaven ;  juftify  yourfelf  to  your  own  confeience,  and  fecure 
the  divine  inter? it.  Be  always  arTured,  that  no  character  is 
more  amiable,  than  that  of  a  female,  who  in  the  gayeft  bloom 

of 


(     44     ) 

of  youth,  and  triumph  of  beauty,  praclifes  the  rules  of  purity 
and  virtue  ;  and  that  in  the  exercife  of  thofe  qualities  the  fineit 
breeding  confifts. 

I  N  all  things  preferve  integrity  ;  the  confcioufnefs  of  thy 
own  uprightnefs  will  alleviate  the  toil  of  bufmefs,  and  foften 
the  harfhnefs  of  ill  fuccefs  and  difappointments,  and  give  thee 
an  humble  confidence  before  God,  when  the  ingratitude  of  man, 
or  the  iniquity  of  the  times,  may  rob  thee  of  other  due  reward. 

THE  time  of  ficknefs  or  affliction  is  like  the  cool  of  the 
day  was  to  Adam,  a  feafon  of  peculiar  propriety  for  the  voice  of 
God  to  be  heard  ;  and  may  be  improved  into  a  very  advanta- 
geous opportunity  of  begetting  or  encreafing  fpiritual  life  in 
the  foul. 


LIFE     is    SHORT. 

Man's  life,  like  any  weavers'  fhuttle  flies, 
Or  like  a  tender  flowret  fades  and  dies  ; 
Or  like  a  race  it  ends  without  delay, 
Or  like  a  vapour  vammes  away  ; 
Or  like  a  candle  which  each  moment  waftes, 
Or  like  a  vefTel  under  fail  it  haftes  ; 
Or  like  a  poic  it  gallops  very  fail, 
Or  like  the  fnadow  of  a  cloud  'tis  paft. 
Our  caflle  is  but  weak,  and  ftrong  the  foe, 
Our  breath  is  ihort,  our  death  is  certain  too ; 
Eut  as  his  coming  is  a  fecret  ftill, 
Let  us  be  ready,  come  death  when  he  will. 


Concluding  Stanzas  of  a  Piece  wrote  on  Recovery  from 

Sicknefs. 

FATHER   of  life  !  whofe  arm  with  equal  power, 
And  equal  goodnefs,  can  deprefs  or  raife  ; 

Complete  the  bleiiings  thou  halt  deign'd  to  ihow  r, 
And  grant  encrcaiing  worth  to  length  of  days. 

Oh ! 


(   4;   J 

Oh !  grant  me  ftill  to  truft  thy  tender  care, 
In  humble  praife  to  ufe  this  added  breath, 

In  health,  the  innocence  of  ficknefs  wear, 

And  keep,  thro'  life,  the  fober  thoughts  of  death* 


A  WISE  Heathen,  with  great  ju  ft  ice,  compares  profperity 
to  the  indulgence  of  a  fond  mother  to  her  child,  which  often 
proves  his  ruin  ;  but  the  affeclion  of  the  Divine  Being  to  that 
of  a  wife  father,  who  would  have  his  fons  exercifed  with  labour, 
difappointment  and  pains,  that  they  may  gather  ftrength  and 
improve  their  fortitude.  Sometimes  too,  a  misfortune  may 
happen  to  a  good  man,  to  preferve  him  from  a  much  greater 
one.  Thus  ficknefs  may  be  a  very  great  mercy  to  him,  if  it 
keeps  him  from  embarking  in  a  veilel  which  will  be  loft  in 
its  palTage.  Thus  poverty  may  fcreen  him  from  a  great  many 
evils  which  would  be  brought  upon  him  by  riches,  and  the 
like.  We  are  fo  fhort-fighted,  that  we  know  not  how  to  dif- 
tinguifh,  and  often  take  the  greateft  bleilmgs  for  misfortunes, 
and  the  heavieft  curfes  for  bleffings.  We  are  like  mariners, 
who  by  fair  winds  might  run  into  the  way  of  pirates ;  but  by 
thofe  contrary  to  their  wifnes,  reach  their  port  in  fafety. 


Extempore  Exclamation  on  the  Profpeft  of  Winter. 

O  H  !  may  our  follies,  like  the  falling  trees, 

Be  ftript  of  ev'ry  leaf  by  autumn's  wind  ; 
May  ev'ry  branch  of  vice  embrace  the  breeze, 

And  nothing  leave  but  virtue's  fruit  behind. 
Then  when  old  age,  life's  winter,  fhall  appear, 

In  ccnfcious  hope,  all  future  ills  we'll  brave, 
With  fortitude  our  dilfciution  bear, 

And  fink,  forgotten,  in  the  filent  grave, 

THE  man  within  t\\Q  golden  mean. 
Who  can  his  boldeft  wiih  contain, 
Securely  views  the  ruin'd  cell, 
Where  fordid  want  and  forrow  dwell, 
And  in  himfelf,  ferenely  great, 
Reclines  an  envied  room  of  ftate,  IT 


(     46    ) 

I  T  is  a  melancholy  confide  rati  on,  that  our  comforts  often 
produce  our  greatefl  anxieties  ;  and  that  an  encreafe  of  our 
pofleflions  is  but  an  inlet  to  new  difquietudes. 

WEAK  and  feeble  minds  are  moft  prone  to  anger,  and 
by  their  exceeding  fiercenefs,  generally  difappoint  their  own 
purpofe;  but  the  greatelt  and  braveit  of  men,  are  always  calm 
and  fedate  ;  they  are  above  being  difturbed  with  little  injuries, 
and  can  generoufly  pardon  the  greatefl ;  taking  more  delight  in 
mercy  and  forgivenefs,  than  in  profecuting  revenge  when  it 
is  in  their  power. 

OTHER  vices  are  confined  within  certain  bounds,  and 
have  a  particular  object,  but  afFedation  diifufes  itfelf  over  the 
whole  man,  and  infects  the  good  qualities  both  of  body  and 
mind. 

SHUN  the  lead  appearance  of  evil,  that  you  may  not  be 
fufpected ;  and  if  you  cannot  avoid  both,  choofe  rather  to  be 
fufpe&ed,  when  you  do  not  deferve  it,  than  to  do  evil,  with- 
out being  fufpecled. 

B  E  very  cautious  of  fpeaking  or  believing  any  ill  of  your 
neighbours ;  but  be  much  more  cautious  of  making  baity  re* 
ports  of  them  to  their  difadvantage. 

LET  virtue  and  innocence  accompany  your  recreations ;  for 
unlawful  pleafures,  tho'  agreeable  for  a  moment,  are  too  often 
attended  with  bad  confequences ;  and  inftead  of  relaxing  the 
mind,  plunge  us  into  an  abyfs  of  trouble  and  affliction. 


FILIAL,  fubmiifive  to  the  fov 'reign  will, 
Glad  of  the  good — and  patient  of  the  ill, 
I'll  work,  in  narrow  fphere,  what  Heav'n  approves, 
Abating  hatreds,  and  encreafing  loves  ; 
My  friendfhips,  ftudies,  pleafures  all  my  own, 
Alike  to  envy  and  to  fame  unknown  ; 
Such  in  fome  bleft  afylum  let  me  lie, 
Take  off  my  fill  of  life,  and  wait,  not  wifti  to  die. 

WHEN 


(     47     ) 

WHEN  beauty's  charms  decay,  as  foon  they  muft, 
And  all  its  glories  humbled  in  the  duft, 
The  virtuous  mind,  beyond  the  rage  of  time, 
Shall  ever  bloffom  in  a  happier  clime, 
Whofe  never-fading  joys  no  tongue  can  tell, 
Where  ever  1  aft ing  youth  and  beauty  dwell  ; 
Where  pain  and  forrow  never  more  (hall  move, 
But  all  is  pleafure,  harmony  and  love. 


SEARCHING  after  HAPPINESS, 

OH!   happinefs,  thou  pleafing  dream, 

Where  is  thy  fubftance  found  ? 
Sought  through  the  varying  fcenes  in  vain, 

Of  earth's  capacious  round. 
The  charms  of  grandeur,  pomp  and  fhew, 

Are  nought  but  gilded  fnares  ; 
Ambition's  painful  fteep  afcent, 

Thick  fet  with  thorny  cares. 
The  bufy  town,  the  crowded  ftreet, 

Where  noife  and  difcord  reign, 
We  gladly  leave,  and  tir'd,  retreat, 

To  breath  and  thinke  again. 
Yet,  if  retirement's  pleafing  charms 

Detain  the  captive  mind, 
The  foft  enchantment  foon  dilTolves, 

'Tis  empty  all  as  wind. 
Religion's  facred  lamp  alone, 

Unerring  points  the  way, 
Where  happinefs  forever  fhines, 

With  unpolluted  ray  ; 
To  regions  of  eternal  peace, 

Beyond  the  ftarry  ikies, 
Where  pure,  fublime,  and  perfect  joys, 

In  endlefs  profpect  rife. 

O  H  would'ft  thou,  man !  but  now  and  then  defcend 
Into  the  dark  receffes  of  thy  bread, 

Before 


(    48     ) 

Before  the  feeds  of  baleful  vice  have  fprung, 
And  tak/n  pofieflion  of  thy  eafy  heart  ; 
Then  might'ft  thou  think  on  other  worlds  to  ccrrue, 
And  live  in  folitude  without  a  fear. 

HAPPY  the  man  !  whofe  tranquil  mind, 
Sees  nature  in  her  changes  kind, 

And  pleased  the  whcle  furveys  ; 
For  him  the  morn  benignly  fmiles, 
And  evening  fhades  reward  the  toils, 

That  meafure  out  his  days. 
The  varying  year  may  fhift  the  fcene, 
The  founding  tempefts  lafh  the  main, 

And  Heaven's  own  thunders  roll ; 
Calmly  he  lees  the  buriting  ftorm, 
Tempefts  nor  thunder  can  deform 

The  morning  of  his  foul. 

THE  induftrious  ant,  by  nature  taught. 
With  more  than  common  prudence  fraught, 
Lays  up  fecure  an  annual  ftore, 
(It's  little  date,  perhaps  no  more  :) 
Would  man  (who  Lord  of  ail  prefides, 
Alone  wrhom  reafon's  influence  guides, 
Whom  Heav'n,  in  mercy  unconfin'd, 
For  nobler  purpofes  defign'd) 
Thus  hoard  againft  that  common  (late 
We  all  mult  prove,  or  foon  or  late ; 
How  calm  might  he  reflgn  his  breath, 
And  fmiling,  meet  the  arm  of  death  ! 
With  joy  his  foul  to  Heav'n  commend, 
And  fearlefs,  wait  his  latter  end. 

NOT  all  the  gifts  of  wealth,  the  pomp  of  ftate, 
The  gilded  palace,  or  the  envied  throne, 
Deferve  the  real  tribute  'of  applaufe. 
Praife  rather  thofe  who  ileadily  purfue 
The  precepts  of  humility,   who  hear 
The  voice  of  cooler  reafon,  nor  defire 
Mo*e  than  their  flocks,  and  herds,  the  tufted  cell, 

Or 


(    49    ) 

Or  mofs-grown  cottage,  the  abode  of  peace  : 
They  fteer  fecurely  down  life's  placid  ftream, 
Rich  in  themfelves,  and  crown'd  with  length  of  days. 


TEMPORAL  things  more  ravifh  in  the  expectation, 
than  in  fruition ;  but  things  eternal,  more  in  the  fruition  than 
expectation* 

VIRTUE  is  the  greater!  ornament  ;  it  is  to  the  young 
neceflary,  to  the  aged  comfortable,  to  the  poor  ferviceable,  to 
the  rich  an  ornament,  to  the  fortunate  an  honour,  to  the  un- 
fortunate a  fupport.  She  ennobles  the  Have,  and  exalts  nobi- 
lity itfelf.  In  fhort,  let  it  be  remembered,  that  none  can  be 
difciples  of  the  graces  but  in  the  fchool  of  virtue  ;  and  that 
thofe  who  wifh  to  be  lovely,  muft  learn  to  be  good. 


THE  folid  joys  of  human  kind, 
Are  thofe  that  flow  from  peace  of  mind, 
For  who  the  fweets  of  life  can  tafte, 
With  vice  and  tim'rous  guilt  oppreft  ? 
'Tis  virtue  foftens  all  our  toils, 

With  peace  our  confeience  crowns  ; 
Gives  pleafure  when  our  fortune  fmiles, 

And  courage  when  it  frowns  ; 
"Calms  ev'ry  trouble,  makes  the  foul  ferene, 
Smooths  the  contracted  brow,  and  cheers  the  heart  within* 


O  H  virtue,  how  lovely  are  thy  charms  !  not  half  fo  fair  the 
beauteous  blufhes  of  the  morn,  the  fiowery  meads,  or  all  the 
cheering  verdure  of  the  groves. 

THE  man  who  has  fo  little  knowledge  of  human  nature,  as 
to  feek  happinels  by  changing  any  thing,  but  his  own  difpoli- 
tions,  will  wade  his  life  in  fruitlefs  efforts,  and  multiply  the 
griefs  which  he  purpofes  to  remove. 

E  THERE 


(     *o     ) 

T  HE R  E  can  be  no  true  and  fincere  pleasure  in  any  finful 
and  vicious  courfe,  the'  it  be  attended  with  all  the  pomp  and 
fplendour  of  outward  happinefs  and  profperity  ;  for  wherever 
fin  or  vice  is,  there  mult  be  guilt ;  and  wherever  guilt  is,  the 
mind  will  be  reftlefs  and  unquiet. 


PURE  are  the  joys  above  the  Ikies, 

And  all  the  regions  peace ; 
No  wanton  lips  nor  envious  eyes, 

Can  fee  or  tafte  the  blifs. 
Thefe  holy  gates  forever  bar 

Pollution,  fin  and  fhame  ; 
None  fhall  obtain  admittance  there, 

But  followers  of  the  Lamb. 

O   THOU,   fupremely  wife,  fupremely  good  ! 
Whofe  ways  are  like  th'  unfathomable  flood, 
Grant  me  to  celebrate  thy  glorious  name, 
''Till  death  diflblves  this  late  preferred  frame  ; 
And  when  this  earth  fhall  haften  to  decav, 
VvThen  feas  mall  burn,  and  mountains  melt  away ; 
When  funs  and  {tars,  in  wild  confufion  hurl'd, 
Now  crufh  each  other,  now  deftroy  a  world, 
May  I  refume  the  facred  theme  above, 
Forever  praife  thee,  and  forever  love. 

HAIL,  moderation  !  virtue,  Heav'nly  bright, 
Thou  mining  path,  thou  ever  glorious  light! 
Steerd  and  conducted  by  thy  certain  thread, 
The  lab'rinth  of  life  we  fafely  tread  ; 
And  with  a  fure  unerring  eye  furvey, 
The  various  perils  of  our  painful  way  ; 
From  thee  alone  the  mighty  bleflings  flow, 
To  double  pleafure  and  to  leflen  woe ; 
In  every  cafe  t'  apply  the  healing  balm, 
And  footh  out  flormy  paffions  to  a  calm, 

OF 


(     5'     ) 

O  F  all  the  calamities  to  which  the  condition  of  mortality 
expofes  mankind,  the  lofs  of  reafon  appears,  to  thofe  who  have 
the  lead  fpark  of  humanity,  by  far  the  moft  dreadful  ;  and 
they  behold  that  lad  ftage  of  human  wretchednefs  with  deeper 
commiferation  than  any  other. 

THE  forgiving  of  injuries,  is  a  virtue  which  not  only 
Chriflianity,  but  morality  enforces.  The  Heathens  pradiied 
it  to  admiration  ;  the  primitive  Chriftians  exceeded  them  t  But 
what  a  glorious  example  have  we  in  the  Lord  and  Mailer  of 
our  falvation,  who  prayed  for  his  cruciiiers — f*  Father,  forgive 
them,"  &c.     Luke  xxiii.  34. 

A  Wife  man  will  deflre  no  more,  than  what  he  may  get  juft- 
ly,  ufe  foberly,  diflribute  cheerfully,  and  leave  contentedly. 

EXPENSIVE  drefs  is  not  a  crime,  becaufe  there  is 
any  harm  in  good  apparel ;  but  becaufe  it  fhews  a  depravity 
"of  mind,  which  turns  the  necefiary  ufe  of  clothes  into  extrava- 
gance, pride  and  folly. 


O  'T  I  S  a  Heav'nly  virtue,  when  the  heart 
Can  feel  the  forrows  of  another's  bofom  ! 
It^ dignifies  the  man.      The  ftupid  wretch, 
Who  knows  not  this  fenfation,  is  an  image, 
And  wants  the  feeling  to  make  up  a  life. 

SHORT  is  the  date  of  our  exiflence  here, 
As  the  light  rain-bow  in  thelucid  fphere ; 
Tho'  facred  fcience  all  her  ftores  expand, 
Tho'  wealth  and  honour  flow  from  fortune's  hand  ; 
Tho'  every  virtue  in  progreffion  rife, 
To  make  us  learn'd,  benevolent  and  wife  ; 
Tho'  great  in  title,  and  renown'd  in  birth, 
Our  laft  retreat's  to  the  oblivious  earth. 

T  H  O  U  Pow'r  Supreme  !  whofe  influence  benign, 
O'er  all  creation'*  infinite  extent 
Shines  forth  ineffable,  infpire  my  heart  With 


(       5*       ) 

With  kindnefs  univerfal ;  let  not  pride, 

Envy  malignant,  fordid  luffc  of  gain, 

Or  any  kindred  difcord-brooding  vice, 

Difturb  my  tranquil  breaft,  but  let  me  pafs 

Thro'  all  the  varied  fcenes  which  life  unfolds, 

In  focial  harmony  with  all  around, 

Serene  and  calm  as  glides  die  lucid  ftream. 


REPUTATIONS  are  of  a  fubtile,  infinuating  nature- 
like water,  derived  from  the  cleared  fpring,  when  it  chances 
to  mix  with  a  foul  current,  it  runs  undiftinguifned  in  one 
muddy  dream  ;  and  they  both  partake  of  the  fame  colour  and 
condition.  If  we  keep  bad  company,  however  little  we  may 
be  criminal  in  reality,  we  nmft  expect  the  fame  cenfure  that 
is  due  to  the  worft  of  our  afibciates. 

HUMILITY  is  a  virtue,  which  highly  adorns  the 
character  in  which  it  reiides,  and  fets  off  every  other  virtue ; 
it  is  an  admirable  ingredient  of  a  contented  mind,  and  an  ex- 
cellent fecurity  againit  many  of  thofe  ills  in  life,  which  are 
rocft  fenfibly  felt  by  people  of  a  delicate  nature. 

THAT  man  is  rnoft  bleffed,  who  receives  his  daily  bread  with 
gratitude  and  thankfulness  from  the  hand  of  God ;  and  he  who 
does,  experiences  a  pleafure  that  exceeds  defcription.  It  is  this 
that  gives  a  relifh  to  every  repaft  ;  it  is  this  that  makes  the 
coarfeft  morfel  delicious  to  the  tafte  ;  and  it  is  the  want  of  this 
that  makes  affluence  a  burthen,  inftead  of  a  bleffrng  to  the  rich. 


THE  fieep  of  the  labouring  man  is  fweet ;  and  if  he  toil 
hard  for  the  bread  that  perifheth,  he  has,  in  the  midft  of  every 
want,  if  a  follower  of  Chrift,  bread  to  eat  that  the  worl<" 
knows  nothing  of.  It  is  not  faid,  happy  are  they  who  pof- 
fefs  abundance  ;  but  happy  is  the  man  who  findeth  wifdom, 
which  is  Chrift,  the  pearl  of  great  price.  In  him  are  hid  thofe 
durable  riches  and  nghteoufnefs,  the  merchandize  of  which  is 
better  than  that  of  filver,  and  the  gain  thereof  than  fine  gold. 

TO 


r 


(     55    ) 

T  O  complain  that  life  has  no  joys,  while  there  is  a  iingle 
creature  whom  we  can  relieve  by  our  bounty,  affift  by  our 
counfels,  or  enliven  by  our  prefence,  is  to  lament  the  lofs  of 
that  which  we  poffefs  ;  and  is  juft  as  rational  as  to  die  of 
third  with  the  cup  in  our  hands. 


ENOUGH  has  Heav'n  indulg'd  of  joy  below, 
To  tempt  our  tarriance  in  this  lov'd  retreat  ; 

Enough  has  Heav'n  ordain'd  of  ufeful  woe, 
To  make  us  languiih  for  a  happier  feat. 

Y  E  prou'd,  ye  felfifh,  ye  fevere, 

How  vain  your  malk  of  (late  ! 
The  good  alone  have  joy  fincere  ; 

The  good  alone  are  great. 

LIFE's  road  let  me  cautioufly  view, 

And  no  longer  difdain  to  be  wife, 
Forbearing  fuch  paths  to  purfue, 

As  my  reafon  mould  hate  or  defpife. 
To  crown  both  my  age  and  my  youth, 

Let  me  mark  where  religion  has  trod, 
Since  nothing  but  virtue  and  truth 

Can  reach  to  the  throne  of  my  God. 

O    DAYS,  long  loft  to  man  in  each  degree* 
The  golden  days  of  hofpitality  ! 
When  liberal  fortunes  vi'd  with  liberal  ftrife, 
To  fill  the  nobleft  offices  of  life  ; 
The  poor,  at  hand  their  natural  patrons  faw, 
And  law-givers  were  fupplements  of  law ! 


NEVER  treat  common  beggars  with  contempt  or  aver- 
fion,  though  their  appearance  be  ever  fo  offenfive  ;  but  remem- 
ber the  kindnefs  of  our  Saviour  and  his  apoftles  towards  them, 
Confider,  that  even  they  have  an  equal  right  with  you,  to  th* 
E  2  protection 


(     54     ) 

protection  of  Heaven  :  be  thankful  that  you  are  not  afflicted 
with  their  diforders,  their  fores,  or  their  poverty,  but  always 
treat  them  as  your  fellow-creatures ;  for,  as  they  are  fuch,  it 
is  your  duty  to  wifh  them  peace  of  mind  in  this  world,  and 
eternal  happinefs  in  the  next ;  which  it  is  impoflible  you  can 
iincerely  do,  and  yet  not  have  the  heart  to  give  them  a  fmall 
relief. 

THE  poor  man  is,  from  his  fituation,  cut  off  from  a  thou- 
fand  temptations  to  vice ;  and  that  levity  and  diffipation  of 
thought  which  are  the  common  attendants  of  eafe  and  affluence, 
are  obliged  to  give  way  to  the  Heady  exercife  of  reafon  and 
cool  reflection,  which  are  as  clofely  connected  with  wifdom, 
as  vice  is  with  folly. 

THE  cheft  of  the  mifer  might  as  well  contain  brafs  as  gold, 
unlefs  benevolence  mould  pour  it  into  the  lap  of  diilrefs,  or 
generofity  place  it  in  the  hands  of  merit. 

THE  accidents  of  life  are  numerous ;  it  is  impoflible  to 
guard  againft  them  all ;  he  that  meets  with  the  feweft,  has  a 
double  tie  of  gratitude  to  that  Being  who  is  about  his  bed  and 
his  paths ;  he  that  meets  with  molt,  may  convert  them  into 
blelfings,  by  ufing  them  as  means  to  exalt  and  improve  his  vir- 
tues. On  both  fides  there  is  a  ftrong  call  for  the  exercife  of 
patience  and  companion ;  and  he  that  exercifes  them  moil, 
bears  the  ftrongeft  refemblance  to  him  whofe  mercy  endureth 
forever. 

W  E  often  overlook  the  bleflmgs  which  are  in  our  poffeflion, 
to  hunt  after  thofe  which  are  out  of  our  reach. 

TRUE  greatnefs  of  foul  ought  to  be  conformable  to  the 
rules  of  equity  ;  its  object  ought  to  be  the  doing  of  all  the  good 
it  is  capable  of,  without  requiring  any  retribution  fcr  the  fa- 
vours granted,  or  the  treafures  diftributed. 


TEACH  me,  oh  thou  !  that  teacher  art 

Of  every  duty  here  below  ;  The 


(    H    ) 

The  number  of  my  days  impart ; 

Be  thou  my  guide  where  e'er  I  go. 
I  afk  no  gold  nor  length  of  days, 

I  meet  thy  will,  thy  will  be  done  ; 
I  know  that  time  itfelf  decays, 

And  gold  but  fparkles  in  the  fun. 
When  chaften'd,  let  me  kifs  the  rod  ; 

I  wiih  no  tranfient  joy  to  claim  ; 
Be  thou  my  portion,  oh,   my  God  ! 

Thro'  Heaven's  eternal  year  the  fame. 

Extract  from   an  Ode  to  Senfibility. 

NE'ER  let  my  foul,  with  haughty  fcorn, 
The  prayer  of  injur'd  virtue  fpurn  ; 
Ne'er  let  my  heart,  with  four  neglect, 
Treat  modeft  worth  with  difrefpect  ; 
But  let  my  bread,  like  wax  receive, 
Each  fair  impreflion  thou  canft  give ; 
Tafte  all  thy  pleafures,  all  thy  pain, 
And  pity  the  unfeeling  train  ! 


POOR  were  the  expectations  of  the  ftudious,  the  brave, 
the  modeft  and  the  good,  if  the  reward  of  their  labours  and 
;  virtues  was  to  be  determined  by  this  life. 

THAT  friendfhip,  which  makes  the  leaft  noife,  is  often 
>  the  moll  ufeful ;  and  a  prudent  friend,  is  generally  of  more 
fervice  than  a  zealous  one. 

T  HE  fureft  means  we  can  ufe,  to  arrive  at  a  true  eftimate 
of  ourfelves; __  and  to  find  out  the  fecret  faults  and  vices  that 
lurk  within  us,  is  to  examine  ourfelves  by  the  rules  which  are 
laid  down  for  our  direction  in  facred  hiltory,  and  to  compare 
our  lives  with  the  life  of  him  who  lived  up  to  the  perfection  of 
human  nature,  and  is  the  Handing  example,  as  well  as  the 
great  guide  and  inftructor,  of  thofe  that  receive  his  doctrines. 

NO 


(    s&   ) 

N  O  perfoa  is  infenfible  to  the  injury  of  contempt  ;  nor 
is  there  any  talent  fo  invidious,  or  fo  certain  to  create  ill  will, 
as  that  of  ridicule.  The  natural  effects  of  years,  which  all 
hope  to  attain,  and  the  infirmities  of  the  body,  which  none  can 
prevent,  are  furely  of  all  others  the  moft  improper  objeds  of 
mirth. 

TO  receive  advice,  reproof  and  inftruc"tion,  properly,  is 
the  fureft  fign  of  a  fincere  and  humble  heart,  and  fhews  a  great- 
nefs  of  mind,  which  commands  our  refpeet  and  reverence,  while 
it  appears  fo  willingly  to  yield  to  us  the  fuperiority. 

AVOID  the  folly  of  flighting  thofe  excellencies  in  others 
which  you  have  not  acquired.  Rather  endeavour,  with  a  well 
tempered  emulation,  to  imitate  them. 

NEVER  add  confufion  to  the  inquietudes  of  thofe  who 
have  failed  of  fuccefs  in  any  attempt ;  nor  exprefs  a  malicious 
joy  at  their  difappointment. 


WHEN  E'E  R  you  would  an  erring  friend  reprove, 
Let  gentle  cautions   mew  the  motive's  love  ; 
Do  not  begin  with  rafhnefs  to  exclaim, 
But  rather  hint  the  fault,  before  you  blame  ; 
'Tis  not  enough  your  admonition's  juft, 
Prudence  mult  guide  it,  or  the  labour's  loft  ; 
Friends  mould  allure,  and  charm  us  into  fenfe, 
Harm  counfels  lefs  reform,  than  give  offence. 

A  Thought  on  firfl  waking. 

T  O  God,  who  guards  me  all  the  night, 

Be  honour,  love,  and  praife  ; 
To  God,  who  fheds  the  morning  light, 

And  gives  me  length  of  days. 
His  pow'r  firft  call'd  us  forth  from  nought, 

Infpir'd  the  vital  flame, 
And  with  amazing  wifdom  wrought, 


The  whole  material  frame. 
He  gave  the  foul  its  Heav'nly  births 

He  by  his  word  divine 
Prepar'd  the  fit  enclofing  earth, 

And  bade  them  both  combine. 
Strange,  that  a  pure,  immortal  mind*, 

A  bright  celeftial  ray, 
Should  be  with  fraileTi  nature  join'd, 

And  mixt  with  common  clay. 
C  !  wond'rous  union,  fo  compof'd, 

That  none  can  underiland, 
'Tis  fuch  as  evidently  mews 

Th*  Almighty  Maker's  hand. 


GREAT  inconveniencies  attend  running  into  arry  extremes. 
Much  of  our  happinefs  depends  upon  an  evennefs  of  temper,  in 
not  fuffering  the  fcale  of  our  reafon  to  mount  us  too  high,  in 
the  feafon  of  profperity  ;  nor  to  fink  us  too  low,  with  the 
weight  of  adverfity. 

A  S  whatever  worldly  fubftance  you  enjoy,  is  the  gift  of 
Providence,  make  it,  in  all  cafes,  ferve  the  wife  and  reafcna- 
ble  ends  of  a  benincent,  hofpitable  life. 

W  E  travel  through  time,  as  through  a  defart  of  wild  and 
empty  waftes,  which  we  would  fain  hurry  over,  to  get  at  the 
imaginary  points  of  reft  and  pleafure. 

I  T  is  a  melancholy  truth,  that  though  among  the  talents  of 
our  flewardfhip,  Time  is  the  moft  valuable,  vet  in  general,  we 
are  more  profufe  and  regardlefs  of  it  than  of  any  other. 


HAPPY,  thrice  happy,  he  whofe  confcious  heart, 
Enquires  his  purpofe  and  difcems  his  part ; 
Who  runs,  with  heed,  tV  involuntary  race, 
Nor  lets  his  hours  reproach  him  as  they  pa&> 

Weighs 


(     58    ) 

Weighs  how  they  ileal  away,  how  fure,  how  faft, 
And  as  he  weighs  them,  apprehends  the  laft  ; 
Or  vacant,  or  engag'd,  our  minutes  flv, 
We  may  be  negligent,  but  we  mull  die. 

THE  lab'ring  bee,  by  God  inftrufted,  knows, 
Where  op'ning  flowers  their  balmy  fweets  difclofe  ; 
The  riling  fun,  her  daily  talk  renews, 
Wide,  o'er  the  plains,  fhe  fips  the  pearly  dews  ; 
From  mead  to  mead,  fhe  venders  through  the  Ikies, 
And  yellow  thyme  diftends  her  loaded  thighs. 
Each  rifTd  flow'r  rewards  her  painful  toil, 
And  her  full   hive  receives  the  golden  fpoil; 
On  flagging  wings  each  load  fhe  thither  bears, 
And  while  the  fummer  fmiles,  for  winter's  wants  prepares. 

The  Ants  and  the  Grafshopper. 

THE  ants,  a  prudent,  painful  train, 
Brought  forth  and  dri'd  their  heaps  of  grain, 
A  grafshopper  half  flarv'd  went  by, 
Who  bow'd  and  beg'd  their  charity  : 
To  whom  a  hoary  ant  reply'd, 
In  harveft  how's  your  time   employ M? 
I  firig  (the  infect  faid)  and  play, 
To  make  the  lab 'ring  peafants  gay  ; 
Ah  !  cry'd  the  ant,  how  juil  the  chance — 
As  then  you  fung,  you  now  may  dance ; 
In  vain  you  here  for  food  apply, 
I'll  feed  no  idle  folks,  not  L 

The  Fall  of  the  Leaf. 

S  E  E  the  leaves  around  ye  falling, 

Dry  and  wither 'd  to  the  ground, 
Thus  to  thoughtlefs  mortals  calling, 

In  a  fad  and  folemn  found. 
((  Sons  of  Adam,  once  in  Eden, 

When  like  us  he  blighted  fell, 
Hear  the  lecture  we  are  reading, 

'Tis, 


(     59     ) 

'Tis,  alas !    the  truth  we  tell. 
Virgins  much,  too  much  prefuming, 

On  your  boafted  white  arid  red, 
View  us,  late  in  beauty  blooming, 

Number 'd  now  among  the  dead. 
Griping  mifers,  nightly  waking, 

See  the  end  of  all  your  care, 
Fled  on  wings  of  our  own  making, 

We  have  left  our  owners  bare. 
Sons  of  honour,  fed  on  praifes, 

Fluttering  high  in  fancied  worth, 
Lo,  the  fickle  air  that  raifes, 

Brings  us  down  to  parent  earth. 
Learned  fires,  in  fyftem  jaded, 

Who  for  new  ones  daily  call, 
Ceafe,  at  length,  by  us  perfuaded, 

Every  leaf  mull  have  a  fall. 
Youth,  tho'  yet  no  loiTes  grieve  you, 

Gay  in  health  and  many  a  grace, 
Let  not  cloudlefs  fkies  deceive  you, 

Summer  gives  to  autumn  place." 
On  the  tree  of  life  eternal, 

Man,  let  all  thy  hopes  be  ftay'd, 
Which  alone,  forever  vernal, 

Bears  the  leaves  that  never  fade. 


A  MAN  who  entertains  an  high  opinion  of  himfelf,  is  natu- 
rally ungrateful.  Ke  has  too  great  an  efteem  of  his  own  merit, 
to  be  thankful  for  any  favours  received. 

WHEN  tired  and  fick  of  all  mortal  vanities,  the  religious 
mind  repofes  itfelf  in  the  firm  expectation  of  drinking  at 
the  fountain  of  life,  and  of  bathing  in  rivers  of  immortal  plea- 
fure  ;  even  death  (which  to  the  guilty  is  the  gloomy  period 
of  all  their  joys,  and  the  entrance  to  a  gulph  of  undying 
wretchednefs)  brightens  into  a  fmile,  and,  in  an  angel's  form, 
invites  the  religious  foul  to  endlefs  reft  from  labour,  and  to  end- 
lefs  fcenes  of  joy, 

THOU 


(     6o    ) 

THOU  great,  ador'd  J  thou  excellence  divine ! 
Beauty  is  thine  in  all  its  conq'ring  pow'rs — 
What  is  there  lovely  in  the  fpacious  earth, 
Or  in  th'  etherial  round,  compar'd  to  thee  ? 
In  thee  we  trace  up  pleafure  to  its  fource  ! 
Thou  art  the  great  original  of  joy, 
Th,  eternal  fpring  of  life,  the  fource  of  lore 
Divine — beyond  fimilitude  fupreme  ; 
With  whofe  immensity  we're  all  furrounded  I 

ACTIVE  in  indolence,  abroad  we  roam, 
la  queft  of  happinefs,  which  dwells  at  home  ; 
With  vain  purfuits  fatigu'd,  at  length  we  find, 
No  place  excludes  it  from  an  equal  mind* 

O  H  what  a  fcene  of  blifs  the  foul  employs, 
Wrapt  in  the  profpecl:  of  eternal  joys  ! 
Where  all  immortal  Hallelujahs  ring, 
Andpraife  the  world's  Redeemer,  Heaven's  King; 
Where  hymns  of  glory,  every  voice  employ  ; 
Where  all  is  love,  and  harmony  and  joy. 


,.«y.<s>^><s: 


A  COURSE  of  virtue,  innocence  and  piety,  is  fuperior  to 
all  the  luxury  and  grandeur,  by  which  the  greateft  libertines 
ever  propofed  to  gratify  their  defires  ;  for  then  the  foul  is  ftill 
enlarged,  by  grafping  at  the  enjoyments  of  eternal  blifs.  The 
mind,  by  retiring  calmly  into  itfelf,  finds  there  capacities  form- 
ed for  infinite  objects  and  defires,  that  ftretch  themfelves  beyond 
the  limits  of  this  creation,  in  fearch  of  the  great  original  of 
life  and  pleafure. 

SUCH  is  the  uncertainty  of  human  affairs,  that  we 
cannot  afiure  ourfelves  of  the  conftant  poflefiion  of  any  objects 
that  gratify  any  one  pleafure  or  defire,  except  that  of  vir- 
tue ;  which,  as  it  does  not  depend  on  external  objects,  we  may 
promife  ourfelves  always  to  enjoy. 

WHEN  you  are  lawfully  engaged  in  the  bufinefs  of  life, 
take  keci  that  your  heart  and  a&Ctions  cleave  not  to  the  duft. 

IT 


(     61     ) 

I T  is  not  without  good  reafon  that  we  are  exhorted  to  pafi 
the  time  of  our  fojourning  in  fear;  an  attachment  to  riches, 
to  worldly  greatnefs,  or  its  cares,  has  a  natural  tendency  to  di- 
vert the  mind  from  better  obje&s,  to  draw  off  its  attention 
from  the  one  tiling  needful,  and  to  impede  its  progrefs  in  the 
purfuit  of  that  happinefs,  winch  is  only  worth  purfuing. 


OWHILE  we  breathe  this  fleeting  air, 
May  we  for  endlefs  life  prepare  ; 
To  love  divine,  continue  chafie, 
All  its  fweet  effluences  tafte  ; 
'Till  at  the  fource,  when  going  hence, 
We  drink  our  fill  of  joy  immenfe  I 


PROVIDENCE  is  commonly  indulgent  to  the  honeft 
endeavours  of  induibrious  perfons,  that  the  more  laborious  they 
are  in  their  employments,  the  more  they  thrive  and  are  blerled 
in  them. 

KNOWLEDGE,  foftened  with  complacency  and  good 
breeding,  will  make  a  perfon  beloved  and  admired  :  but  being 
joined  with  a  fevere  and  oaorofe  temper,  it  makes  him  rather 
feared  than  refpected. 

WHEN  once  the  foul,  by  contemplation,  is  raifed  to  any- 
right  apprehenfion  of  the  divine  perfections,  and  the  foretaftes  of 
celeftial  blifs,  how  will  this  world,  and  all  that  is  in  it,  vanifh 
and  difappear  before  his  eyes  !  With  what  holy  difdain  will  he 
look  down  upon  things,  which  are  the  higheft  objects  of  other 
men's  ambitious  delires  !  All  the  fplendour  of  courts,  all  the 
pageantry  of  greatnefs,  will  no  more  dazzle  his  eves,  than  the 
faint  luftre  of  a  glow-worm  will  trouble  the  eagle  after  it  hath 
been  beholding  the  fun. 

WERE  there  but  a  fingle  mercy  apportioned  to  each  mi- 
nute of  our  lives,  the  fum  would  rife  very  high  ;  but  how  is 
our  arithmetic  confounded,  when  every  minute  has  mere  than 
we  can  diftinclly  number  ! 

F  Reflections 


{      62       } 

Refleclions  on  the  Ciofe  of  the  Year. 

THE  year  expires,  and  this  its  lateft  hour — 

Ah  think,  my  foul,  how  fvvi ft  the  moment  flies, 
Nor  idly  wafte  it  while  it's  in  thy  pow'r  ; 

Attend  time's  awful  call,  and  be  thou  wife. 
Twelve  months  ago,  what  numbers,  blithe  and  gay, 

Thoughtful,  plan'd  fchemes  for  the  fucceeding  year  ; 
How  vain  were  all  their  hopes,  to  death  a  prey, 

Nor  wealth  they  afk,  nor  poverty  they  fear. 
I've  follow 'd  worth  and  merit  to  the  grave, 

The  lail  fad  duties  to  their  afhes  paid  ; 
How  foon  may  I  the  fame  kind  office  crave, 

The  pitying  tear,  fad  figh  and  friendly  aid  ? 
Almighty  Lord  !  be  pleafed  to  extend 

Thy  wonted  kindnefs ;  ftill  thy  bleflings  pour- 
On  !   may  thy  grace  into  my  breaft  defcend, 

Teach  me  to  work  thy  will,  and  thee  adore. 

O  F  all  the  caufes  which  confpire  to  blind 
Man's  erring  judgment,  and  mifguide  the  mind — 
What  the  weak  head,  with  ftrongeft  bias  rules, 
Id  Fit  id  e,  the  never  failing  vice  of  fools. 


A  R I  C  H  man  is  no  way  happier  than  another  man,  but 
that  he  hath  more  opportunities  miniftered  unto  him  of  doing 
more  good  than  his  neighbour. 

HUMILITY  is  the  grand  virtue  that  leads  to  content- 
ment ;  it  cuts  off  the  envy  and  malice  of  inferiors  and  equals, 
and  makes  us  patiently  bear  the  infults  of  fuperiors. 

POVERTY  has  not  always  the  nature  of  an  affliction  or 
judgment,  but  is  rather  merely  a  Hate  of  life  appointed  by 
providence  for  the  proper  trial  and  exercife  of  the  virtues  of 
contentment,  patience  and  refignation  :  And  for  one  man  to 
murmur  againrt  God  becaufe  he  poffefles  not  thofe  riches  he  fees 
given  to  another,  M  is  the  wrath  that  killeth  the  foolilh  man, 
"  and  the  envy  that  flayeth  the  filly  one."  SURELY 


(     63     } 

SURELY  if  we  did  not  lofe  our  remembrance,  or  at 
leaft  our  fallibility,  that  view  would  always  predominate  in 
our  lives,  which  alone  can  aiFord  us  comfort  when  we  die. 

A  Serious  and  contemplative  mind  fees  God  in  every  thing. 
Every  objecl  we  behold,  the  food  by  which  we  are  fuftained, 
the  raiment  wherewith  we  are  cloathed,  fuggeft  thoughts  of 
piety  and  gratitude  ;  and  if  we  attend  to  the  filent  voice  of 
meditation,  we  mall 

U  Find  tongues  in  trees,  books  in  the  running  brooks, 
M  Sermons  in  ftones,  and  good  in  every  thing.'' 

OU  R  principles  only  become  pleafing  and  delightful,  when 
by  the  influence  of  them  we  learn  to  calm  and  govern  cur 
paffions  ;  and  are  formed  by  them  into  fuch  a  temper,  as  renders 
us  capable  of  cheerfully  enjoying  the  bleftings  of  the  prefent 
world,  and  the  higher  happinefs  of  a  better. 

THE  moft  momentous  concern  of  man,  is  the  ftate  he  fhall 
enter  upon,  after  this  fnort  and  tranfitory  life  is  ended  :  And 
in  proportion  as  eternity  is  of  greater  importance  than  time, 
fo  ought  men  to  be  folicitous  upon  what  grounds  their  ex- 
pectations, with  regard  to  that  durable  ftate,  are  built  ;  ana 
upon  what  aiTurances  their  hopes  or  their  fears  ftand. 

W  E  mould  take  all  the  care  imaginable,  how  we  create 
enemies,  it  being  one  of  the  hardeft  things  in  the  Chriftiaa 
religion,  to  behave  ourfelves  as  we  ought  to  do  towards  them,. 


THE.HA.PPY     MA  N. 

HAPPY  the  man,  who  free  from  noify  fpcrts, 
And  all  the  pomp  and  pageantry  of  courts, 
Far  from  the  venal  world  can  live  fecure, 
Be  moral,  honed,  virtuous — tho'  poor  ; 
Who  walking  ftill  by  equity's  juft  rules, 
Detefting  fordid  knaves,  and  fiatt 'ring  focls  ; 
Regarding  neither  fortur.^  pow'r  nor  ftate, 

Nor 


(    64    } 

Nor  ever  wifhing  to  be  vainly  great  ; 

Without  malevolence  and  fpleen  can  live, 

And  what  his  neighbour  wants,  with  joy  would  give ; 

A  foe  to  pride,  no  pafiion's  guilty  friend, 

Obeying  nature,  faithful  to  her  end  ; 

Severe  in  manners,  as  in  truth  fevere, 

Tuft  to  himfelf,  and  to  his  friends  iincere  ; 

His  temper  even,  and  his  fteady  mind 

Refin'd  by  friendihip,  and  by  books  refin'd  : 

Some  low-roof 'd  cottage  holds  the  happy  fwain, 

Unknown  to  lux'ry,  or  her  fervile  train  ; 

He,  ftudying  nature,  grows  ferenely  wife, 

Socrates  he  lives,  or  like  him  dies. 
He  afks  no  glory,  gain'd  by  hoftile  arms, 
Nor  fighs  for  grandeur  with  her  painted  charms  ; 
With  calm  indifFrence  views  the  fhifting  fcene, 
Thro'  all  magnanimous,  relign'd,    ferene  : 
On  hope  fuilain'd,  he  treads  life's  devious  road, 
And  knows  no  fear,  except  the  fear  of  God ; 
Would  Heav'n,  indulgent,  grant  my  fond  defire, 
Thus  would  I  live,  and  thus  mould  life  expire. 

THE  middle  (late  of  life  is  befl, 
Exalted  ftations  find  no  reft  ; 
Storms  make  th'  afpiring  pine  and  tow 'r, 
And  mountains  feel  .the  thunder's  pow'r. 
The  mind,  prepaid  for  each  event, 
In  every  ftate  maintains  content ; 
She  hopes  the  beft  when  dorms  prevail, 
Nor  trufts  too  far  the  profpVous  gale ; 
Should  time  returning  winters  bring, 
Returning  winter  yields  to  fpring  ; 
Should  darknefs  fhroud  the  prefent  ikies, 
Hereafter  brighter  funs  mall  rife. 


A  WISE  Heathen  was  of  opinion,  that  if  mankind,  in  ge- 
neral, had  the  power  given  them  to  change  their  ilation  in  life, 
and  at  the  fame  time  were  made  acquainted  with  the  inconve- 

niencies 


(     6j    ) 

niences  attending  every  other  ftate,  as  well  as  their  own,  they 
would  unanimoufly  choofe  to  continue  in  the  fituation  they 
were  at  firft  placed  in  by  Providence. 

THE  firft  ingredient  in  converfation  is  truth;  the  next 
good  fenfe ;  the  third  good  humour  ,*  the  laft  wit. 

DISCREET  people  generally  have  a  referve  of  neeefla- 
ries  before-hand,  that  when  the  time  comes  for  ufing  them, 
there  may  be  no  hurry  and  confufion. 

CIVILIT  Y  overacled,  is  always  fufpicious.  A  blaft  of 
thorns  begins  in  a  blaze,  and  foon  ends  in  a  fmoke  ;  but  afire 
made  of  proper  materials,  defigned  to  be  ufeful  and  lafting,  at 
its  firft  kindling  breaks  out  from  a  cloud  of  fmoke,  and  grows 
clearer  and  brighter  as  it  burns. 

P  L  U  T  A  R  C  H  (in  his  book  of  friendfhip)  directs  us,  to 
"  make  a  trial  of  our  friends,  as  of  our  money,  and  to  be 
equally  cautious  of choofing  both."  Tacitus  tells  us,  that (C  the 
longer  a  friendfhip  is  contracted,  fo  much  the  furer  and  more 
firm  it  is."  From  this  we  may  colled,  that  an  old  friend  is 
always  to  be  moll  valued,  the  bell  to  be  loved,  and  the  firft  to 
be  trufted. 

THE  duties  that  are  owing  to  friends,  are  integrity,  love, 
counfel  and  afliftance.  It  is  not  intimacy,  and  frequency  of 
converfation,  that  makes  a  friend,  but  a  difinterefted  obfervance 
of  thefe  duties. 

NEVER  admit  (fays  the  philofopher  Seneca)  vain  glory 
into  your  heart ;  for  human  glory  is  at  beft  no  more  than  hu- 
man folly. 


THE  pleafing  gales  that  gentle  fummer  yields, 

Amid  the  gay  profufion  of  his  (lore  ; 
The  fmiles  of  nature,  and  of  verdant  fields, 

Are  all,  alas !  but  bleflings  of  an  hour. 

F  2  How- 


(     66    ) 

How  vart  the  beauties  they  around  difplayr  * 

Till  dreary  winter  reafiumes  his  reign, 
And  fternly  bids  them  vanifh  and  decay, 

And  leave  no  traces  on  the  penfive  plain, 
The  golden  cowflip  on  th'  enamell'd  mead, 

Displays  his  youthful  glories  to  the  view, 
But  foon  he  droops  his  folitary  head, 

And  yields  Ins  virtue  to  the  evening's  dew, 
Alas !  how  tranfient  is  the  dream  of  life, 

And  every  heart-felt  comfort  we  enjoy ; 
And  fraught  with  care,  folicitude  and  ftrife, 

Each  hour  attempts  our  blcfilngs  to  deflroy. 
All  human  fcenes  are  fubjeft  to  decay, 

And  time  aiTerts  an  all-prevailing  pow'r  ; 
Expanding  beauties  to  the  morning's  ray, 

We  bloom  to  wither,  as  the  tender  flow'r. 
Not  fo  the  fowl — its  views  fublime  and  pure, 

Where  faith,  and  hope,  and  charity  unite, 
Shall  rife,  and  dwell  eternally  fecure, 

In  Heaven's  unfading  manfions  of  delight. 


M  ERE  bafhfulnefs,  without  merit,  is  awkward :  and 
merit,  without  medefty,  infolent :  But  modeft  merit  has  a  dou- 
ble claim  to  acceptance,  and  generally  meets  with  as  many  pa- 
trons as  beholders. 

X  E  N  O  P  H  O  N  in  his  Cyrus,  which  he  defigned  for  the 
perfect  idea  of  a  good  prince,  reprefents  him  in  the  laft  minutes 
of  his  life,  addrerlmg  himfelf  to  God  to  this  purpofe  :  "  Thou 
"  knoweft  that  I  have  been  a  lover  of  mankind  ;  and  now  tha£ 
<(  I  am  leaving  this  world,  I  hope  to  find  that  mercy  from 
"  thee  which  I  have  (hewn  to  others.'"' 

THE  man  who  keeps  the  golden  mean 
Wbefre  raging  florms  are  feldcm  feen, 
Avoids  t  -vi  cang'reus  recks  and  pools, 
That  fright  the  wife,  and  f wallow  fools,  THE 


(     67     ) 

THE  limits  of  our  life,  how  like  a  made— 
A  pafTing  cloud — our  vain  exiftence  flies  ! 
Yet  all  our  boundlefs  hopes,  our  future  views, 
For  endlefs  ages,  on  this  narrow  fpan, 
This  little  rivulet  of  time,  depend. 
And  Oh  !  how  fall  the  gliding  current  flows ! 
Nothing  retards  its  everlafting  courfe  ; 
Ev'n  now  our  hafty  moments  pafs  away, 
Forever,  O  forever  are  they  gone  ! 

We  die  with  every  breath  ;  no  calling  back 
The  niceft  point  of  all  our  vain  duration  ; 

*Tis  part  beyond  retrieve  ! but  Oh  !  there  reft 

Eternal  things  on  this  important  point  : 

This  fpan  of  life,  this  fhort  allotted  fpan, 

Is  all  we  have  to  manage  for  the  flake 

Of  an  immortal  foul  ;   the  glorious  weight 

Of  Heav'nlv  crowns  and  kingdoms  are  fufpended, 

And  Oh  ! — if  loft,  can  never  be  recall'd  ! 


WHAT  impreflion  can  treafure  and  great  porTeflions  make 
upon  the  mind  that  is  contemplating,  ferioufly,  on  the  king- 
dom of  Heaven,  and  a  crown  of  glory  that  never  fades  away  ? 
What  are  the  pomp  and  majefty  of  an  earthly  court ;  the  mag- 
nificence of  palaces  and  crouded  theatres,  to  one  who  has  in 
view  the  glories  of  Heaven  ;  the  triumphs  of  tile  faints  ;  and 
the  ineffable  fplendour  of  the  angelic  order  ?  What  are  fealls, 
fports,  plays,  and  all  the  varieties  of  fenfual  pleafures  and  de- 
lights, to  him  who  fledfaftly  fixes  his  eye  on  celeftial  blifs,  and 
everlafling  tranfports  of  joy  ? 

H  E  that  would  pafs  the  latter  part  of  life  with  honour  and 
decency,  muft,  when  he  is  young,  confider  that  he  fhall  one 
day  be  old,  and  lay  up  knowledge  for  his  fupport,  when  his 
powers  of  acting  fhall  forfake  him  ;  and  remember  when  he  is 
eld,  that  he  has  once  been  young,  and  forbear  to  animadvert, 
with  unneceffary  rigour,  on  faults  which  experience  only  can 
correct, 

Written 


(     68     ) 
Written  in  the  Holy  Bible. 

YE  facred  tomes,  be  my  unerring  guide, 
Dove-hearted  faints,  and  prophets  eagle-ey'd  I 
I  fcorn  the  moral  fop  and  ethic  fage, 
But  drink  in  truth  from  your  illumin'd  page  : 
Like  Mofes'  bum,  each  leaf's  divinely  bright, 
Where  God  inverts  himfelf  in  milder  light ; 
Taught  by  your  doctrines  we  devoutly  rife, 
Faith  points  the  way,  and  hope  unbars  the  fkies. 
You  tune  our  paffions,  teach  them  how  to  roll, 
And  fink  the  body  but  to  raife  the  foul ; 
To  raife  it,  bear  it  to  myilerious  day, 
Nor  want  an  angel  to  direct  the  way  ! 

TO    THE    MOTHER. 

SAY,  while  you  prefs,  with  growing  love, 

The  darling  to  your  brealt, 
And  all  a  mother's  pleafures  prove, 

Are  you  entirely  bleft  ? 
Ah  !  no  ;  a  thoufand  tender  cares, 

By  turns  your  thoughts  employ ; 
Now  riling  hopes,  now  anxious  fears, 

And  grief  fucceeds  to  joy. 
Dear  innocent,  her  lovely  fmiles, 

With  what  delight  you  view  ! 
But  ev'ry  pain  the  infant  feels, 

The  mother  feels  it  too. 
Then  whifpers  bufy,  cruel  fear,. 

"  The  child,  alas,  may  die!" 
And  nature  prompts  the  ready  tear, 

And  heaves  the  riiing  figh. 
Say,  does  not  Heav'n  our  comforts  mix 

With  more  than  equal  pain, 
To  teach  us,  if  our  hearts  we  fix 

On  earth  we  fix  in  vain  ? 
Then  be  our  earthly  joys  refign'd, 

Since  here  we  cannot  reft  ; 
For  earthly  joys  were  ne'er  deiign'd 

To  make  us  fully  bleft.  PATIENCE 


(     G9     ) 

PATIENCE  confifts  in  a  well  pleafed  fubmiiTion  to  the 
divine  will,  and  a  quiet  yielding  to  whatever  it  pleafes  the 
Deity  to  afRift  us  with.  If  we  are  poffefled  with  a  fiacere  re- 
verence and  efteem  of  God,  humility  will  fortify  us  with  pa- 
tience to  furFer,  and  not  murmur,  at  his  difpenfations. 

IN  every  affair  of  life,  defpair  ihould  give  way  to  hope, 
and  impatience  to  content  ;  for  the  hand  of  Providence  is  al- 
ways neareft  to  affifl  us,  when  perils  are  moll  evident. 

AFFLICTIONS,  if  we  make  a  difcreet  ufe  of  them,  are 
meffengers  of  love  from  Heaven  to  invite  us  thither* 


A  S  O  U  L  immortal,  fpending  all  her  fires, 
Wafting  her  ftrength  in  flrenuous  idlenefs, 
Thrown  into  tumult,  raptur'd  or  alarm 'd, 
At  aught  this  (bene  can  threaten  or  indulge, 
Refembles  ocean  into  tempeft  wrought, 
To  waft  a  feather,  or  to  drown  a  Rv. 

The  Knowledge  of  God  natural  to  Man. 

THAT  gracious  Pow'r,  who,  from  his  kindred  clay> 
Bids  man  arife  to  tread  the  realms  of  day, 
Implants  a  guide,  that  tells  what  will  fulfil 
His  word,  or  what's  repugnant  to  his  will ; 
The  author  of  our  being  marks  fo  clear, 
That  none,  but  thofe  who  will  be  blind,  can  err ; 
Or  wherefoe  er  we  turn  thJ  attentive  eyes, 
Proofs  of  a  God  on  ev'ry  fide  arife  ; 
Nature,  a  faithful  mirror,  ftands  to  fhew 
God,  in  his  works,  difclos'd  to  human  view ; 
Whate'er  exifts  beneath  the  chryftal  floods, 
Or  cuts  the  liquid  air,  or  haunts  the  woods  : 
The  various  flow'rs,  that  fpread  th'  enamell'd  mead, 
Each  plant,  each  herb,  or  ev'n  the  grafs  we  tread, 
Difplays  Omnipotence  :  None  elfe  could  form 
The  vileft  weed,  or  animate  a  worm, 

Ox 


f 


(     7°    J 

Or  view  the  livid  wonders  of  the  fky, 

What  hand  fufpends  thofe  pond'rous  orbs  on  high  ? 

The  cornets  flight,  the  planets  my ftic  dance! 

Are  thefe  the  works  of  Providence  or  chance  ? 

Themfelves  declare  that  univerfal  caufe 

Who  fram'd  the  fyftem,  and  impos'd  their  laws. 


CHRISTIANITY  is  not  a  fpeculative  fcience,  but  a 
practical  obligation. 

PIETY  and  pride  can  no  more  thrive  together,  than 
health  and  Scknefs,  light  and  darknefs. 

THO'  our  nature  is  iniperfecl  and  corrupt,  yet  it  is  fo  far 
improvable,  by  the  grace  of  God  upon  our  own  good  endea- 
vours, that  we  all  may,  tho'  not  equally,  be  initruments  of 
his  glory,  ornaments  and  bleifings  to  this  world,  and  capable 
of  eternal  happinefs. 

THERE  is  a  certain  candour  in  true  virtue,  which  none 
can  counterfeit. 

I  N  the  moderate  ufe  cf  lawful  things,  there  can  be  no 
crime  ;  but  in  ail  extremes  there  is. 

"WE  cannot  (fays  AmaSs  in  his  epiille  to  Polycartes)  ex- 
"  peel:  in  this  world  an  unmixt  happinefs,  without  being  fre- 
"  quently  tempered  with  troubles  and  difafters." 

THE  family  is  the  proper  province  for  private  women  to 
mine  in. 

TEMPERANCE  is  a  regimen  into  which  all  perfons 
may  put  themfelves. 

GOD  hath  promifed  pardon  to  him  that  repenteth  ;  but  he 
hath  not  promifed  repentance  to  him  that  finneth. 

HEAV'N's 


{     7i     ) 

HEAV'N's  favours  here  are  trials,  not  rewards ; 
A  call  to  duty,  not  difcharge  from  care, 
And  mould  alarm  us  full  as  much  as  woes  ; 
Awake  us  to  their  caufe  and  confequence, 
O'er  our  fcan'd  conduct  give  a  jealous  eye, 
And  make  us  tremble,  weigh'd  with  our  defert. 

T  O  man's  falfe  optics  (from  his  folly  falfe) 
Time,  in  advance,  behind  him  hides  his  wings, 
And  feems  to  creep,  decrepid  with  his  age  ; 
Eehold  him  when  pafs'd  by  !  what  then  is  feen 
But  his  broad  pinions  fwifter  than  the  winds  ? 
And  all  mankind,  in  contradiction  ftrong, 
Rueful,  aghaft  !  cry  out  at  his  career. 

A     DREAM, 

TORTUR'D  with  pain,  as  late  I  ileeplefs  lay, 
Opprefs'd  with  care,  impatient  for  the  day, 
Juft  at  the  dawn,  a  gentle  /lumber  came, 
And  to  my  wand'ring  fancy  brought  this  dream. 

Methought  my  pains  were  hunVd,  and  I  was  laid 
In  earth's  cold  lap,  among  the  filent  dead  ; 
Prop'd  on  my  arm,  I  view'd,  with  vaft  furprize, 
This  laft  retreat  of  all  the  great  and  wife  ; 
Where  fool,  with  knave,  in  friendly  confort  lies. 
Whilft  thus  I  gaz'd,  behold  a  wretch  appear'd, 
In  beggar's  garb,  with  loathfome  filth  hefmear'd, 
His  carcafe,  Lazar  like,  was  crafted  o'er 
With  odious  leprofy,  one  horrid  fore  ; 
This  wretch  approach  ?d,  and  laid  him  by  my  fide, 
Good  Heaven  ! — how  great  a  (hock  to  mortal  pride ; 
Enrag'd  I  cry'd — "   friend,  keep  the  diftance  due 
"  To   us  of  rank,    from   beggars  fuch  as  you  ; 
"  Cbferve  feme   manners,  and   do   me  the  grace, 
"  To  move  far  off,   and  quit  your  betters  place." 

"   And  what  art  thou  ?    audacious  (he   reply 'd  !) 
"   That  thus  dorr,  mew  fuch  reliques  of  thy  pride  ? 
"  What  tho'  in  life  the  harder  lot  was  mine, 
"  Of  eafe  and  plenty  every  bldEng  thine, 

n  Yet 


(     7*    ) 

ff  Yet  here,   diitinaions  ceafe  :   a  beggars  dufl: 

"  Shall  rife  with  kings — more  happy  if  more  juft  ; 

M  Till  then  we  both  one  common  mafs  mall  join, 

"  And  fpite  of  fcorn,  my  afhes  mix  with  thine. " 

O  N     W  R  I  T  I  N  G. 

B  L  E  S  S  '  D  be  the  man,  his  memon-  at  leait, 
That  found  the  art,  thus  to  unfold  his  breaft, 
And  taught  fucceeding  times  an  eafy  way, 
Their  fecret  thoughts  by  letters  to  convey ; 
To  baffle  abfence,  and 'fecure  delight, 
"Which,  till  that  time,  was  limited  to  fight ; 
The  parting  farewell  fpoke  the  laft  adieu, 
The  lefs'ning  diflance  pari,  then  lofs  of  view  : 
The  friend  was  gene,  which  fome  kind  moments  gave, 
And  abfence  feparated  like  the  grave. 

Y\  hen  for  a  wife  the  youthful  Patriarch  fent, 
The  camels,  jewels,  and  a  fervant  went, 
And  wealthy  equipage,  tho'  grave  and  flow, 
But  not  a  line  that  might  the  lover  (hew. 
The  rings  and  bracelets  woo'd  her  hands  and  arms  ; 
But  had  me  known  of  melting  words  the  charms, 
That  under  fecret  feals  in  ambufh  lie, 
To  catch  the  foul  when  drawn  into  the  eve, 

Mr  AlTvrian  had  not  :  ;  lide, 

Nor  her  feft  heart  in  chains  of  hair  been  ti'd. 


W  E  Pv  E   it  lawful  and  becoming  in  man  to  choofe  his  cir- 
cumstances in  life,   a  mediocrity   would  be  the   moil 
irfeful,  and  the  freeft  from  temptation  ;  though  notwithstand- 
ing thefe  advantages,  fome  might  think  it  not  the  moi: 
able.     Opulence  may  tempt  us  to  diffipation,   indolence,  few 
fuality,   and   total  forgetfuinefs   of  God:   yc  eirm 
falfnood,  diihonefly'and  perjury.     Let  us,  therefore,  fay  with 
Agur,    "   Give   me  neith 
Ki   food  convenient  for  me;  led?  I  be  full 
(<  {:.yt  who  is  the  Lord?  or  be  p                teal,  and  take  the 

"  name 


(     13     ) 

rc  name  of  my  God  in  vain."  But  even  thofe  Chriftians,  who 
move  in  this  middle  fphere,  have  their  forrows  and  their  joys  ; 
they  feel  fome  degree  of  pain,  fome  proportionable  meafure 
of  anxiety  and  care  ;  they  tafte  a  bitter  mixed  with  every  fweet, 
and  they  find  a  faithful  monitor  within,  who  tells  them  that 
the  earth  is  not  their  portion,  was  not  given  as  their  reft,  nor 
intended  as  their  home. 


M  Y  God,  the  fteps  of  pious  men 

Are  ordered  by  thy  wTill ; 
Tho'  they  mould  fall,  they  rife  again, 

Thy  hand  fupports  them  ftill. 
I  choofe  the  path  of  Heav'nly  truth, 

And  glory  in  my  choice ; 
Not  all  the  riches  of  the  earth 

Could  make  me  fo  rejoice. 

To  Mira,  on  removing  into  the  Country, 

M  I  R  A,  while  on  earth  we  (lay, 
Change  our  relidence  we  may  ; 
Change  it  often,  and  yet  ftill 
May  be  happy  if  we  will. 
Virtue  ftill  mall  be  our  care, 
The  Deity  is  every  where  ; 
Every  where  to  blefs  the  good, 
Seen,  tho'  little  underftood. 
Seen  his  wifdom,  goodnefs,  pow'r* 
When  we  cultivate  the  flow'r  ; 
Wifdom  all  its  hues  difclofe, 
Its  perfume  with  goodnefs  glows  ; 
Finite  pow'rs  in  Heav'n  or  earth 
Cou'd  not  give  the  charmer  birth. 

God  mall  fend  our  board  to  fpread 
Healthful  herbage  from  the  bed ; 
Cooling  fruit  from  every  bough, 
Milk  and  butter  from  the  cow  ; 
From  the  hive  the  comb  replete, 
Such  was  Ifrael's  Canaan  treat  ; 

G  Cliick$ 


(     74     ) 

Chicks  that  once  before  our  door 

Pick'd  the  crumbs  and  afk?d  for  more  ; 

Pigs  that  grunted  in  our  Ry, 

Lambs  that  flup'd  when  vve  were  by  ; 

This  is  goodnefs  in  excefs, 

Oh  !  how  Heav'n  delights  to  blefs. 

From  the  vine  the  generous  juice, 

Not  for  luxury  butufe, 

Pour'd  for  Mira,  pour'd  for  me — 

If  content,  how  happy  we. 

\\  aerefoe^er  we  turn  our  eyes, 
Ho  v.  ing  profpedls  rife  ! 

Feitiii?      by  fun  and  rain, 
Eartu  th'd  with  grafs  and  grain  ; 

Gro  aficfe  fill  our  ears, 

the  God!  appears ; 
He  i  hill  and  dale 

Bad  .  '  .  -1  avail  ; 

Gave  the  linnet's  note  renVd, 
With  its  joys  to  charm  mankind. 
Mint,  what  fo  clear  as  this, 
Joy  in  others  gives  us  bills  ? 
With  our  fuperflooos  flore 
Let  us  clothe  and  feed  the  poor. 
Worth  that  from  the  public  flies, 
Let  us  feek  and  patronize  ; 
Worth  that  hopes  for  no  difplay, 
'Till  that  all  difclofing  day  ; 
Ivlira !  then  may  you  and  I, 
Claim  a  manfion  in  the  fkv. 


FORTITUDE  has  its  extremes,  as  well  as  the  reft  of 
the  virtues ;  and  ought,  like  them,  to  be  always  attended  by 
prudence. 

THE  end  of  learning  is,  to  know  God,  and  out  of  that 
knowledge,  to  love  him,  and  to  imitate  him,  as  we  may  the 
neareft,  by  pofTefling  our  fouls  of  true  virtue. 

CICERO 


J     75     I 

CICERO  fays,  "  Vicious  habits  are  fo  great  a  Rain  to 
*'  human  nature,  and  fo  odious  in  themfelves,  that  every  perfcn 
"  actuated  by  right  reafon,  would  avoid  them,  though  lie  was 
<c  fure  they  would  be  alwav s  concealed  both  from  God  and 
••  man,  and  had  no  future  punimment  entailed  upon  them." 

AS  to  be  perfectly  juft,  is  an  atribute  of  the  divine  nature; 
to  be  fo  to  the  utmoft  of  our  abilities,  is  the  glory  of  a  man. 

A  VIRTUOUS  habit  of  mind  is  fo  abfolutely  neceffary  to 
influence  the  whole  life,  and  beautify  every  particular  action  ; 
to  overbalance  or  repel  all  the  gilded  charms  of  avarice,  pride, 
and  felf-intereit,  that  a  man  defervedly  procures  the  lading  epi- 
thets of  good  or  bad,  as  he  appears  either  fwayed  by,  or  re- 
gardlefs  of  it. 

AMAN  of  virtue  is  an  honour  to  his  country,  a  glory  to 
humanity,  a  fatisfaction  to  himfeif,  and  a  benefactor  to  the 
world.  He  is  ri^l^without  opprefiion  or  difhonefty,  charita- 
ble without  oftentation,  courteous  without  deceit,  and  brave 
without  vice. 

ANGER  may  glance  into  the  bread  of  a  wife  man,  but 
refts  only  in  the  boiom  of  fools. 

WHEN  the  laft  hour  feems  to  be  approaching,  all  terref- 
trial  advantages  are  viewed  with  indifference  ;  and  the  value 
that  we  once  fet  upon  them,  is  difregarded  or  forgotten.  And 
if  the  fame  thought  was  always  predominant,  we  fhould  then 
find  the  abfurdity  of  ftretching  out  our  arms  inceiTantly  to 
grafp  that  which  we  cannot  keep;  and  wearing  out  ourfelves 
in  endeavours  to  add  new  turrets  to  the  fabric  of  ambition, 
when  the  foundation  itfeif  is  making,  and  the  ground  on  which 
it  Hands  is  mouldering  away. 

T  O  him  who  is  animated  with  a  view  of  obtaining  appro- 
bation from  the  Sovereign  of  the  univerfe,  no  difficulty  mould 
feem  infurmountable. 

^  W  E  have  feen  thofe  virtues  which  have,  while  living,  re- 
tired from  the  public  eye,  generally  tranfmitted  to  pofterity,  as 
the  trueft  objecls  of  admiration  and  praife.  A 


I     7*     ) 

A  Hymn.— Pfalm  VIIMi. 

LORD!  how  illuflrious  is  thy  name, 
Whofe  pow'r  both  Heav'n  and  earth  proclaim  ! 
When  I  the  Heav'ns,  thy  fabric,  fee, 
The  moon  and  liars,  difpos'd  by  thee  ; 

0  !  what  is  man,  or  his  frail  race, 
That  thou  ftiould'ft  fuch  a  Ihadow  grace  ? 
Next  to  thy  angels  moft  renown'd, 
With  majefty  and  glory  crown'd  ! 

All  that  on  dales  and  mountains  feed, 

All  that  the  woods  and  defarts  breed, 

V*  hate'er  thro'  airy  regions  flees, 

Or  fwims  in  deep  and  Sonny  feas, 

Thou  all  beneath  his  feet  hail  laid, 

King  of  thy  whole  creation  made  ; 

Lord  !  how  illuflrious  is  thy  name, 

Whole  pow'r  both  Heav'n  and  earth  proclaim  ! 

1  ENVY  no  one's  birth  or  fame, 

Their  title,  train  or  drefs ; 
Nor  has  my  pride  e'er  ilretch'd  its  aim, 

Beyond  what  I  poffefs. 
I  afk  not,  wifh  not,  to  appear, 

More  beauteous,  rich  or  gay  ; 
Lord  make  me  wifer  every  year, 

And  better  every  day. 


A  W I S  E  and  virtuous  man  can  never  be  proud  ;  nor  can 
he  be  exalted  in  his  thoughts  at  any  advantages  he  has  above 
others,  becaufe  he  is  confcious  of  his  own  weaknefs  and  inabili- 
ty to  become  either  wife  or  virtuous,  by  any  thing  he  finds  in 
his  own  power  ;  and  his  fenfe  of  the  gcodnefs  of  the  tountifi ' 
God  in  bellowing  upon  him  more  abundantly,  what  he  has 
been  plea  fed  more  fparingly  to  vouchfafe  to  others,  will  in- 
fpire  his  foul  with  humility,  thankfulnefs  and  adoration. 

MEN 


(    77    ) 

MEN  generally  love  to  have  their  praifes  proclaimed,  not 
whifpered.  There  are  not  many  who  can  have  the  patience 
to  itay  till  the  day  of  judgment,  to  receive  the  approbation 
and  applaufe  of  their  good  aclions. 


Verfes  written   on   the   Severity  of  Winter* 

WHILE  the  fierce  winter  rages  all  around, 
And  the  hard  earth's  with  frofty  fetters  bound  ; 

le  clothes  its  furface  a  thin  garb  of  fnow* 
And  rapid  rivers  now  no  longer  Row  : 
Tho'  keen  the  piercing  cold,  the  vital  flood, 
The  rich  can  warm  with  raiment,  fire  and  food ; 
But  whence  the  poor  enable  to  fuftain 
Oppreffive  want,    and  hunger's  urgent  pain  ? 
How  is  it,  naked,   hungry — they  can  bear, 
In  their  defencelefs  ftate,  the  piercing  air  ? 
Whence  mail  their  wants  the  juft  fupply  receive  ? 
Ought  man  refufe,  when  God  empow'rs  to  give  ? 
None  can — but  thofe  in  whom  companion  fails  ; 
In  whom  nor  love  of  God  nor  man  prevails  ; 
In  whom  all  ferious  fenfe  of  duty's  loft, 
Colder  their  hearts  than  fnow,  and  harder  than  the  frofL 


ALL  have  their  frailties.  WThoever  looks  for  a  friend 
without  imperfections,  will  never  find  what  he  feeks ;  we  love 
ourfelves  with  all  our  faults,  and  we  ought  to  lqyq  our  friend 
in  like  manner. 

THERE  is  nothing  Co  engaging  as  a  benevolent  dHpofi- 
ticn.  i  his  temper  makes  a  man's  behaviour  inoffenfive,  :^~ 
ble  and  obliging ;  it  multiplies  friends,  and  difarms  the  ma- 
lice of  an  enemy. 

A  M  A  N  without  complaifance,  ought  to  have  a  great 
deal,  of  merit  in  the  room  of  it. 

G  2  Hrd 


(     7S     J 

H  E  whofe  honeft  freedom   makes  it  his   virtue  to 
what  he  thinks,   makes  it  his  necefiity  to  think  what  is 


Hymn  for  the  Mor ning. 

O  N   thee,  each  morning,  O  my  God! 

My  waking  thoughts  attend, 
In  whom  are  founded  all  my  hopes, 

And  all  my  wifhes  end. 
My  foul,  in  pleafmg  wonder  loft, 

Thy  boundlefs  love  furveys, 
And,  hYd  with  grateful  zeal,  prepares, 

Her  facrifice  of  praife. 
Thou  lead'ft  me  thro*  the  maze  of  Heep, 

And  bring'ft  me  fafe  to  light, 
Amd  with  the  fame  paternal  care, 

ConducTft  my  ileps  till  night. 
When  ev'ning  ft  umbers  prefs  mine  eyes, 

With  thy  protection  bleft, 
In  peace  and  fafety  I  commit 

My  wearied  limbs  to  reft. 
My  fpirit,  in  thy  hand  fecure, 

Fears  no  approaching  ill ; 
For,  whether  waking  or  afleep, 

Thou,  Lord  !  art  with  me  ftill. 
What  fit  return  can  I,  weak  flem, 

Make  to  Almighty  Pow'r  ! 
For  fo  much  goodnefs,  fo  much  love  I 

Such  mercies  every  hour  ! 
I'll  daily,  to  th'  aftonifh'd  world, 

His  wond'rous  acts  proclaim, 
Whilft  all  with  me  mail  praifes  fmg, 

With  me  fh all  blefs  his  name. 
At  morn,  at  noon,  at  night,  I'll  ftill, 

The  growing  work  purfue  ; 
And  him  alone  will  praife,  to  whom 

Alone  all  praife  is  due, 


(     79    ) 


I  T  is  a  fign  of  great  prudence,  to  be  willing  to  receive  in- 
flruftion  u  the  moil  intelligent  perfon,  fometimes,  (lands  in  need 
of  it. 

THERE  is  nothing  more  difagreeable,  than  continual 
jefling.  By  endeavouring  to  purchafe  the  reputation  of  be- 
ing pleafant,  a  man  lofes  the  advantage  of  being  thought  wife. 

I  T  is  ungenerous  to  give  a  perfon  occailon  to  blufh  at  his 
own  ignorance  in  any  one  thing,  who  perhaps  may  excel  us  in 
many. 

THE  greateft  wifdom  of  fpeech,  is  to  know  when,  and  what, 
and  where  to  fpeak ;  the  time,  matter  and  manner.  The  next 
to  it,  is  filence. 

A  S  we  mould  never  conilrue  that  in  earned,  which  is  fpo- 
ken  in  jell,  fo  we  mould  not  fpeak  that  in  jeft,  which  may  be 
conflrued  in  earnefl. 

THE  talent  of  turning  men  into  ridicule,  and  exposing 
thofe  we  converfe  with,  is  the  qualification  of  little,  ungenerous 
tempers.  What  an  abfurd  thing  it  is  to  pafs  over  all  the  va- 
luable parts  of  a  man,  and  fix  our  attention  on  his  infirmities ; 
to  obferve  his  imperfections  more  than  his  virtues  ! 

A  S,  amongfl  wife  men,  he  is  the  wifefl  who  thinks  he 
knows  ieafl,  fo,  amongfl  fools,  he  is  the  greateft  who  thinks 
he  knows  moll. 

THERE  is  far  more  fatisfa6tion  in  doing,  than  receiving 
good.  To  relieve  the  oppreffed,  is  the  mofl  glorious  aft  a 
man  is  capable  of;  it  is  in  fome  meafure  doing  the  bufmefs  of 
God  and  Providence  ;  and  is  attended  with  a  Heavenlv  plea- 
fare,  unknown  but  to  thofe  that  are  beneficent  and  liberal. 


LET  worldly  minds  the  world  purfue, 
It  has  no  charms  for  me  3 

**^  Once 


(     So     ) 

Once  I  admir'd  its  trifles  too, 

But  grace  has  fet  me  free. 
Its  pleafures  now  no  longer  pleafe, 

No  more  content  afford, 
Far  from  my  heart  be  joys  like  thefe, 

Now  I  have  known  the  Lord, 
As  by  the  light  of  opening  day, 

The  liars  are  all  concealed ; 
So  earthly  pleafures  fade  away, 

When  Jefus  is  reveal'd. 
Now,  Lord  !  I  would  be  thine  alone, 

And  wholly  live  to  thee ; 
But  may  I  hope  that  thou  wilt  own 

A  wcrthlefs  worm  like  me  ? 
Yes — tho'  of  finners  I'm  the  worft, 

I  cannot  doubt  thy  will  ; 
For  if  thou  had'ft  not  lov'd  me  firft 

I  had  refused  thee  ftill. 


ALPHONSUS,  king  of  Sicily,  being  afked  what  he 
would  referve  for  himfelf,  who  gave  fo  much  away  ?  Even 
thofe  things,  faid  he,  that  I  do  give,  for  the  reft  I  efteern  as 
nothing. 

N  O  character  is  more  attractive  of  univerfal  refpecl:,  than 
that  of  helping  thofe  who  are  in  no  condition  of  helping  them- 
felves. 

THE  temperate  man's  pleafures  are  durable,  becaufe  they 
are  regular  ;  and  all  his  life  is  calm  and  ferene,  becaufe  it  is 
innocent. 

SOCRATES  faid,  «  all  the  treafures  of  the  earth 
'•  were  not  to  be  compared  to  the  leafl  virtue  of  the  foul." 

THE  gifts  of  the  mind  are  able  to  cover  the  defects  of  the 
body  ;  but  the  perfections  of  the  body  cannot  hide  the  imper- 
fections of  the  mind, 

THOUGH 


(     8i     ) 

THOUGH  prudence  may  oblige  a  man  to  fecure  a 
competencv,  yet  never  was  any  one  by  right  reafon  induced  to 
feek  fuperfluities. 

RICHNESS  of  drefs  contributes  nothing  to  a  man  of 
fenfe,  but  rather  makes  his  fenfe  enquired  into.  The  more  the 
body  is  fet  off,  the  mind  appears  the  lefs. 

THE  greater!:  pleafure  wealth  can  afford  us,  is  that  of  do- 
ing good. 

0  F  all  the  things  this  world  affords  us,  the  poffeffion  and 
enjoyment  of  wifdom  alone  is  immortal.  A  itriel:  adherence 
to  virtue,  and  a  well  regulated  life,  renders  our  pleafures  more 
folid  and  lafting. 

1  F  we  apply  ourfelves  ferioufly  to  wifdom,  we  mail  never 
live  without  true  pleafure,  but  learn  to  be  pleafed  with  every 
thing.  We  fhall  be  pleafed  fo  far  with  wealth,  as  it  makes 
us  beneficial  to  others  ;  with  poverty,  for  not  having  much  to 
care  for ;  and  with  ubfeurity,  for  being  unenvied. 


The  Angler  and  the  Philofopher. 

BESIDE  a  gentle  murm'ring  brook, 

An  angler  took  his  patient  itand ; 
He  ey'd  the  ftream  with  anxious  look, 

And  wav'd  his  rod  with  cautious  hand. 
The  bait  with  nicer!:  art  was  dreft, 

The  fifties  left  their  fafe  retreat, 
And  one  more  eager  than  the  reft, 

Look'd,  long'd,  and   fwallow'd  the  deceit. 
Too  late  (he  felt  the  poignant  fmart, 

Her  pitying  friends  her  fate  deplore, 
The  angler,  with  well-practic'd  art, 

Hook'd,  play'd,  and  drew  her  to  the  fhore. 
Lur'd  by  the  beauty  of  the  day, 

The  fun  now  finking  in  the  iky, 


(      82      ) 

A  fage  purfu'd  his  walk  that  way, 

And  faw  the  bleeding  victim  lie* 
Far  in  the  vale  of  years  declined, 

He  watch'd  the  courfe  of  nature's  law  3 
And  thus  with  philosophic  mind, 

He  moraliz'"d  en  what  he  faw. 
Indulge,  a  while,  the  penfive  vein, 

Aud  fix  this  image  in  your  mind, 
You've  hook/d  a  fifh — obferve  its  pain, 
And  view  the  ftate  of  human  kind* 
Fate  gives  us  line,  we  fhift  the  fcene, 
And  jocund,  traverfe  to  and  fro, 
Pain,  ficknefs,  ftili  will  intervene, 

We  feel  the  hook  where  e'er  we  go, 
If  proudly,  we  our  fchemes  extend, 

And  look  beyond  the  pre  fen  t  hour, 
We  find  our  ftraiten'd  profpefts  end, 

And  own  an  over-ruling  pow'r. 
Awhile  we  fport,  awhile  lament, 

Fate  checks  the  line  and  we  are  gone ; 
Draeg'd  from  our  wonted  element 
To  diftant  climes,  untry'd,  unknown. 


I  T  is  no  common  blefling  to  meet  with  a  faithful,  fenfible, 
and  difcreet  friend ;  faithful  to  conceal  nothing  from  us ;  fen- 
fible  to  remark  cur  faults ;  and  difcreet  to  reprehend  us  for 
them.  But  to  be  able  to  believe  and  follow  his  advice,  is 
indeed  a  real  happinefs.  It  frequently  happens,  that  we  take 
a  pride  in  following  our  own  conceits;  like  thofe  travellers 
that  lofe  their  way  for  want  of  taking  a  guide,  or  enquiring 
after  the  road. 

SLANDER  is  the  revenge  of  a  coward,  and  diflim-ula- 
tion  his  defence. 


BEWARE  what  earth  calls  happinefs ,  beware 
All  joys,  but  joys  that  never  can  expire ;  Wkg 


(     S3     ) 

Who  builds  on  lefs  than  an  immortal  bafe, 
Fond  as  he  feems,  condemns  his  joys  to  death. 

Infcription  over  the  Door  of  a  Gentleman's  Retreat : 

BENEATH  this  mofs-  grown  roof,  within  this  cell, 
Truth,  liberty,  content  and  virtue  dwell ; 
Say  you  who  dare,  this  happy  place  difdain, 
What  fplendid  palace  boafcs  fo  fair  a  train  ? 

VIRTUE'S  the  friend  of  life,  the  foul  of  health, 
The  poor  man's  comfort,  and  the  rich  man's  wealth. 


I  T  is  not  fufficient,  that  the  Chriftian  avoid  only  the  com- 
miflion  of  known  actual  fins ;  for  more  is  certainly  required 
of  him  who  is  commanded  to  abftain  from  all  appearance  of 
evil  ;  who  is  to  fpeak  the  truth  to  his  neighbour,  and  fo  to 
walk  that  he  may  be  pronounced  blamelefs  and  without  re- 
buke in  the  midft  of  this  crooked  and  perverfe  generation. 
Circumfpection  in  the  ordering  of  our  fpeech,  is,  in  fome  re- 
fpects,  perhaps,  as  neceffary  for  the  ornament  of  religion,  as  the 
outward  deportment  of  our  conduct  in  the  world  ;  or,  at  leaft, 
as  neceffary  for  the  approbation  of  him,  who,  as  one  expreffes, 
*■  Views  effects  in  their  caufes,  and  actions  in  their  motives  ;" 
or,  to  ufe  words  ftill  more  awful,  who  hath  declared,  that 
"  Every  idle  word  which  men  (hall  fpeak,  they  mall  give  an 
"  account  thereof  in  the  day  of  judgment." 

m 

DISCRETION  does  not  only  mew itfelf  in  words,  but 
in  all  the  circumftances  of  action,  and  is  like  an  under  agent 
of  Providence,  to  guide  and  direct  us  in  the  ordinary  concerns 
of  life. 

IMPRINT  this  maxim  deeply  in  your  mind,  that  there  is 
nothing  certain  in  this  human  and  mortal  ftate  ;  by  which 
means  you  wiU  avoid  being  tranfported  with  prosperity,  and 
being  dejected  in  adverfity. 


(     84     ) 

O  !  BORN  for  nobler  ends !  dare  to  be  wife ; 
'Tis  not  e'en  now  too  late,  aflert  thy  claim ; 
Rugged  the  path  conducting  to  the  ikies, 
But  the  fair  prize  is  an  immortal  fame. 


HOUSHOLD  affairs  ought  infenfibly  to  Aide  along, 
and  reprefent  a  ft  ill  current  without  noife  or  wares. 

CLEARNESS  is  the  rule  of  fpeaking,  as  fincerity  is  the  rule 
of  thinking.  Too  bright  fallLes  of  wit,  like  flames  of  lightning, 
rather  dazzle  than  illuminate. 

LESSONS  and  precepts  ought  to  be  gilded  and  fweetened 
as  we  do  pills  and  potions,  fo  as  to  take  off  the  difguft  of  the 
remedy  ;  for  it  holds  both  in  virtue  and  in  health,  that  we  love 
to  be  initrucled,  as  well  as  phyfick'd  with  pleafure. 


Verfes  fent  to  a  young  Woman,  with  a  Carnation  growing  in 
a  Flower- Pot. 

W  HILE  this  gay  flower  attracls  thy  eager  fight, 
And  gives  to  every  feeling  fenfe  delight, 
Let  its  belt  ufe  thy  better  thoughts  employ, 
And  yield  thee  profit,  while  it  gives  thee  joy. 
Like  "thee  in  beauty's  faireft  noon  it  blows, 
Flames  as  the  fun,  and  as  the  ruby  glows ; 
But  time,  that  fixes  every  mortal's  fate, 
Marks  its  fhort  exit,  and  uncertain  date. 
Thus  the  bright  charms  of  youth  and  love  decay, 
As  the  fine  flower  that  fcents  a  fummer's  day  ; 
Soon  will  the  fpoils  of  time  thy  mind  engage, 
And  e'en  thy  beauty  wither  into  age  ; 
Amid  the  frolics  of  engaging  youth, 
Be  thine  the  care  to  hoard  the  charms  of  truth  ; 
To  mark  the  moment  fancy's  pow'rs  decay 
And  place  thy  blifs  beyond  the  fleeting  day. 


(     8j     ) 

A  T  REE  that  is  every  year  tranfplanted,  will  never  bear 
fruit ;  and  a  mind  that  is  always  hurried  from  its  proper  ilatlon, 
will  fcarce  ever  do  good  in  any. 

SUPPOSING  men  were  to  live  forever  in  this  world, 
it  would  be  hardly  polTible  for  them  to  do  more  towards  their 
eftabliihment  here,  than  they  now  do. 

LIBERALITY  mould  have  fuch  a  mixture  of  pru- 
dence, as  not  to  exceed  the  ability  of  the  giver. 

WITH  a  falfe  companion,  it  is  hard  to  retain  innocence  ; 
be,  therefore,  very  cautious  in  choofing  your  company. 

RESOLVE  to  fpeak  and  ac"t.  well  in  company,  in  oppo- 
fition  to  thofe  that  do  ill  ;  whofe  vice  fet  againit  thy  \irtue, 
will  render  it  the  more  confpicuous  and  excellent. 


An  Elegy  written  when  the  Bells  were  tolling  for  the  Inter- 
ment of  a  Corpfe. 

HARK!  now  the  folemn  peal  begins, 

And  founds  the  fad  alarm  ; 
Forfake,  it  cries,  forfake  your  fins, 

And  fhun  impending  harm. 
Behold  !  the  corpfe  approaching  near, 

View  there  your  transient  fiate ; 
Beftow  at  leafi  one  pious  tear, 

And  with  fubmifiion  wait. 
'Ere  long  this  melancholy  fcene, 

Shall  on  yourhearfe  attend  ; 
With  hafte  employ  the  fpace  between, 

To  make  of  God  your  friend. 
Then  mall  your  mind  feel  fweet  repofe, 

Nor  care  difrurb  your  reft, 
Virtue  alone  this  peace  beftows, 

And  thus  rewards  the  bleft. 

H  SLIGHT 


(     86     ) 

SLIGHT  not  thofe  joys  Heaven's  bounty  doth  beftow, 
rurfuing  what  was  never  found  below  ; 
So  many  ills  in  ftormy  life  abound, 
"  In  Heaven  alone  true  happinefs  is  found." 

The  Clofe  of  the  Year. 
A  S  rapid  rolls  the  year  away, 

Down  the  fwift  current  of  the  times, 
A  moment  let  the  reader  ftav, 

And  mark  the  moral  of  my  rhymes. 
As  rivers  glide  towards  the  fea, 

And  link  and  lofe  them  in  the  main, 
So  man  declines — and  what  is  he  ? 

His  hope,  his  wifh,  alas,  how  vain  J 
Fall  gees  the  year  ,  but  ftill  renew'd, 

1  he  ball  of  time  knows  no  decay  ; 
Sure  fignal  of  that  greateft  good, 

We  hope  in  God's  eternal  day. 


YOUR  wit  may  make  clear  things  doubtful  ;  but  it  is 
your  prudence  to  make  doubtful  things  clear. 

I  N  converfation,  a  man  of  good  fenfe  will  feem  to  be  lefs 
knowing,  to  be  more  obliging,  and  choofe  to  be  on  a  level 
with  others,  rather  than  opprefs  with  the  fuperiority  of  his 
genius. 

I  T  is  according  to  nature,  to  be  merciful  ;  for  no  man  that 
hath  not  divefled  himfelf  of  humanity,  can  be  hard-hearted  to 
others,  without  feeling  a  pain  in  himfelf. 

TRUE  honour,  as  defined  by  Cicero,  is  the  concurrent 
approbation  of  good  men  ;  fuch  only  being  fit  to  give  true 
praife,  who  are  themfelves  praife- worthy. 

N  O  B I  L  I  T  Y  is  to  be  confidered  only  as  an  imaginary 
diftinction,  unlefs  accompanied  with  the  practice  of  thofe  gene- 
rous virtues  by  which  it  ought  to  be  obtained.  Titles  of  honour, 
conferred  upon  fuch  as  have  no  perfonal  merit  to  deferve  them, 
are  at  bed  but  the  royal  ftamp  fet  upon  bafe  metal,  TO 


{    s7    > 

TO    PEACE. 

COME,  lovely,  gentle,  pence  of  mind, 

With  all  thy  fmiling  nymphs  around, 
Content  and  innocence  combin'd, 

With  wreath  of  facred  olive  crown'd. 
Come,  thou  that  lov'ft  the  walk  at  eve, 

The  banks  of  murm'ring  ft  reams  along, 
That  lov'ft  the  crowded  court  to  leave, 

And  hear  the  milk-maid's  fimple  fong  ; 
That  lov'ft,  with  contemplation's  eye, 

The  head-long  cataracl  to  view, 
That  foams  and  thunders  from  on  high,. 

While  echoes  oft  the  found  renew  ; 
That  lov'ft  the  dark  fequefter'd  wood, 

Where  filence  fpreads  her  brooding  wings, 
Nor  lefs  the  lake's  tranflucent  flood, 

The  moiTy  grots  and  bubbling  fprings. 
With  thee,   the  lamp  of  wifdom  burns, 

The  guiding  light  to  realms  above  ; 
With  thee,  the  raptur'd  mortal  learns 

The  wonders  of  celeftial  love. 
"With  thee,  the  poor  have  endlefs  wealth, 

And  facred  freedom  glads  the  Have  ; 
With  thee,  the  fick  rejoice  in  health, 

The  weak  are  ftrong,  the  fearful  brave. 
O  lovely,  gentle  peace  of  mind, 

'    Be  thou  on  earth  my  conftant  gueft  ; 
With  thee,  whate'er  in  life  I  find, 

This  pledge  of  Heav'n  fhall  make  me  bleft. 


AS  no  man  lives  fo  happy,  but  to  fome  his  life  would  feem 
unpleafant ;  fo  we  find  none  fo  miferable,  but  one  fhall  hear 
of  another  that  would  change  calamities  with  him. 

H  E  that  is  afhamed  to  be  feen  in  a  mean  condition,  would 
probably  be  proud  of  a  fplendid  one. 

iMPRr 


(     88     ) 

^  IMPRINT  this  maxim  deeply  in  your  mind,  that  there 
!s  nothing  certain  in  this  human  and  mortal  ftate  ;  by  vvhicr 
means  you  will  avoid  being  transported  with  profperity,  anc 
being  dejecled  in  adverfity. 

ENDEAVOUR  to  make  peace  among  thy  neighbours. 
It  is  a  worthy  and  reputable  aftion,  and  will  bring  greater  and 
jufter  commendations  to  thee,  and  more  benefit  to  thofe  with 
whom  thou  converted,  than  wit  or  learning,  or  any  of  thofe  fo 

much  admired  accomplifnrnents. 

PREFER  folid  fenfe  to  wit ;  never  itudy  to  be  diverting, 
without  being  ufeful ;  let  no  jed  intrude  upon  good  manners, 
nor  fay  any  thing  that  may  offend  modeity. 

B  E  flow  in  chooilng  a  friend,  and  flower  to  change  him  ; 
courteous  to  all  ;  intimate  with  few.  Slight  no  man  for 
his  meannefs,  nor  eiieem  any  for  their  wealth  and  greatnefs 
alone. 

AN  idle  body  is  a  kind  of  monfter  in  the  creation.  All  na- 
tt&fc  is  bufy  about  him.  How  wretched  is  it  to  hear  people 
complain,  that  the  day  hangs  heavy  upon  them  ;  that  they  do 
not  know  what  to  do  with  themfelves.  How  abfurd  are 
fuch  exprerlions  among  creatures,  who  can  apply  themfelves  to 
the  duties  of  religion  and  meditation  ;  to  the  reading  of  ufeful 
books ;  who  may  exercife  themfelves  in^the  purfuits  of  know- 
ledge and  virtue,  and  every  hour  of  their  lives  make  themfelves 
wifer  and  better  than  they  were  before. 

A  Contemplation  on   Night. 

WHETHER  amid  the  gloom  of  night  I  ftray, 
Or  ray  glad  eyes  enjoy  revolving  day, 
Still  nature's  various  face  informs  my  fenfe 
Cf  an  all- wife,  all-powerful  Providence. 

When  the  gay  fun  firft  breaks  the  (hades  of  night, 
And  ftrikes  the  diftant  hills  with  eaftern  light, 

Colour 


(    s9    } 

Colour  returns,  the  plains  their  livery  wear, 
And  a  bright  verdure  clothes  the  fmiling  year  ; 
The  blooming  flower?  with  opening  beauties  glow, 
And  grazing  flocks  their  milky  fleeces  fhew. 
The  barren  cliffs,  with  chalky  fronts,  arife, 
And  a  pure  azure  arches  o'er  the  Ikies. 
But  when  the  gloomy  reign  of  night  returns, 
Stript  of  her  fading'  pride,  all  nature  mourns  ; 
The  trees  no  more  their  wonted  verdure  boaft, 
Eut  weep,  in  dewy  tears,  their  beauty  loft. 
No  diftant  landfkips  draw  our  curious  eyes. 
Wrapt  in  night's  robe  the  whole  creation  lies. 
Yet  itill  ev'n  now,  while  darknefs  clothes  the  land, 
We  view  the  traces  of  th'  Almighty  hand  ; 
Millions  of  ftars  in  Heaven's  wide  vault  appear, 
And  with  new  glories  hang  the  bouudlefs  fphere. 
The  filver  moon  her  weftern  couch  forfakes, 
And  o'er  the  Ikies  her  nightly  circle  makes  \ 
Ker  folid  globe  beats  back  the  funny  rays, 
And  to  the  world  her  borrow'd  light  repays. 

Whether  thofe  ftars  that  twinkling  luftre  fend 
Are  funs,  and  rolling  worlds  thofe  funs  attend, 
Man  may  conjecture,  and  new  fehemes  declare, 
Yet  all  his  fviiems  but  conjectures  are. 
But  this  we  know,  that  Heaven's  eternal  king, 
Who  bid  this  uniyerfe  from  nothing  fpring, 
Can  at  his  word  bid  num'rous  worlds  appear, 
And  riling  worlds  rh'  all-powerful  word  mail  hear, 

When  to  the  weftern  main  the  fun  defcends, 
To  other  lands  a  rifmg  day  he  lends  ; 
The  fpreading  dawn  another  fhepherd  fpies, 
The  wakeful  flocks  from  their  warm  folds  arife. 
Pvefrefh'd,  the  peafant  feeks  his  early  toil,    . 
And  bids  the  plow  correct,  the  fallow  foil  ; 
While  we,  in  fleep's  embraces,  wafte  the  night, 
The  climes  oppos'd  enjoy  meridian  light. 
And  when  thofe  lands  the  bufy  fun  forfakes, 
With  us  again  the  xofy  morning  wakes ; 
In  lazy  fleep  the  night  rolls  fwift  away, 
And  neither  clime  laments  his  abfent  ray. 

H  2  When 


(    90    ) 

When  the  pure  foul  is  from  the  body  flown, 
No  more  fhall  night's  alternate  reign  be  known; 
The  fun  no  more  (hall  rolling  light  beftow, 
But  from  th'  Almighty  ftreams  of  glory  Mow. 
Oh  !  may  fome  nobler  thought  my  foul  employ, 
Than  empty,  tranfient,  fublunary  joy  ! 
The  liars  (hall  drop,  the  fun  mail  lofe  his  flame, 
Eut  thou,  O  God !  forever  fhine  the  fame. 


A  S  riches  are  in  general  the  means  of  procuring  fome  of 
the  comforts,  and  almoit  all  the  conveniences  of  life,  we  moil 
commonly  think  that  happinefs  is  annexed  to  the  polfeffion  of 
them.  We,  therefore,  toil  and  labour  for  abundance  ;  and 
when  abundance  is  obtained,  we  find  as  many  wants,  as  many 
cares,  and  as  many  forrows,  as  when  humble  poverty  was  our 
only  burthen  ;  wrhen  induitry  procured  the  neceiTaries  of  life  ; 
or  when  mediocrity  of  circumflances  placed  us  beyond  the 
reach  of  want. 

I  T  is  our  bufinefs  to  follow  the  leadings  of  Divine  Provi- 
dence, as  the  bell  and  wifeil  rule  for  our  conduct  in  everv  flage 
and  circumilance  of  life.  If  worldly  affluence  is  to  be  the 
portion  of  the  labouring  man,  the  hand  of  God  will  point  out 
the  way,  and  he  will  furmount  the  greatefl  difficulties. 

L  EX  us  be  particularly  careful  to  fhun  all  occafion  of 
fuperfluous  difcourfe,  and  watch  over  our  words,  that  we  utter 
nothing  but  what  may  tend  to  the  glory  of  God,  or  the  good 
of  our  neighbour. 

H  E  that  does  good  for  virtue's  fake,  feeks  neither  praife  nor 
reward,  though  fure  of  both  at  lafl. 


THIS  fib'rous  frame,  by  nature's  kindly  law, 
Which  gives  each  joy  to  keen  fenfation  here, 

G'er  purer  fcenes  of  Bms  the  veil  may  draw, 

And  cloud  reflection's  more  exalted  fphere.  YvT.en 


(     9*     J 

When  death's  cold  hand,  with  all-diffolving  pow'r. 
Shall  the  clofe  tie  with  friendly  ftroke  unbind, 

Alike  our  mortal  as  our  natal  hour 

May  to  new  being  wake  the  riling  mind  ; 

On  death's  new  genial  day  the  foul  mav  rife, 

Born  to  fome  higher  life,  and  hail  fome  brighter  Ikies. 

THIS  is  the  Mate  of  man  ;  to-day  he  puts  forth 
The  tender  leaves  of  hope,  to-morrow  bloflbms, 
And  bears  his  blufhing  honours  thick  upon  him  ; 
The  third  day  comes  a  froft,  a  killing  froft, 
And — nips  his  root. 

S  O  fond  of  liberty  is  man,  that  to  reftrain  him  from  any 
thing,  however  indifferent,  is  fufficient  to  make  that  thing  an 
object  of  deli  re. 

NO  man  ever  did  a  defigned  injury  to  another,  without 
doing  a  greater  to  himfelf. 

M  A  N's  chief  good  is  an  upright  mind,  which  no  earthly 
power  can  bellow,  nor  take  from  him. 

TAKE  no  advantage  of  the  ignorance,  necelfity  or  pro- 
digality of  any  man,  for  that  gain  can  never  be  bleft. 

UPON  whatfoever  foundation  happinefs  is  built,  when  that 
foundation  fails,  happinefs  mult  be  deitroyed  ;  for  which  rea- 
fon,  it  is  wifdom  to  choofe  fuch  a  foundation  for  it,  as  is  not 
liable  to  deftructive  accidents. 

I  F  happinefs  be  founded  upon  riches,  it  lies  at  the  mercy  of 
theft,  deceit,  opprelfion,  war  and  tyranny  ;  if  upon  fine  houfes, 
and  coftly  furniture,  one  fpark  of  fire  is  able  to  confume  it ;  if 
Upon  wife,  children,  friends,  health  or  life,  a  thoufand  difeaf- 
es,  and  ten  thoufand  accidents,  have  power  to  deftroy  it ;  but, 
if  it  oe  founded  upon  the  infinite  bounty  and  goodnefs  of  God, 
and  upon  thofe  virtues  that  entitle  to  his  favour,  its  foundation 
is  immoveable,  ajud  its  duration  eternal.  Pha- 


(     9*     ) 
Pharaoh's  Daughter. 

F  A  S  T  by  the  margin  of  her  native  flood, 

Whofe  fertile  waters  are  well  known  to  fame, 
Fair  as  the  bord'ring  flow'rs  the  princefs  ilood, 

And  rich  in  bounty  as  the  gen'rous  ftream. 
When,  lo  !  a  tender  cry  afflicts  her  ear, 

The  tender  cry  declares  an  infant's  grief ; 
Soon  die,  who  melted  at  each  mortal's  care, 

With  tend'reit.  pity  fought  the  babe's  relief. 
The  babe,  adorn'd  in  beauty's  early  bloom, 

But  to  the  laft  diftrefs  expos'd,  appears, 
His  infant  foftnefs  pleads  a  milder  doom, 

And  fpeaks  with  all  the  eloquence  of  tears. 
The  kind  Egyptian  gaz'd  upon  his  charms, 

And  with  companion  view'd  the  weeping  child  ; 
She  fnatch'd  the  little  Hebrew  to  her  arms, 

And  kifs'd  the  infant — the  iweec  infant  fmii'd. 
Again  (he  clafps  him  with  a  fond  embrace, 

Yet  more  fhe  pities  the  young  Granger's  woe  ; 
She  wip'd  the  tears  that  hong  upon  his  face, 

Her  own  the  while  in  pious  plenty  flow. 
Now,  cruel  father,  thy  harm  law  I  fee, 

.And  feel  that  rigour  wliich  the  Hebrews  mourn  ; 
O  !  that  I  could  reverfe  the  dire  decree, 

Which  dooms  t^e  babe  a  wretch  as  foon  as  born  ! 
But  that,  alas  !  exceeds  my  lender  pow'r — 

And  muit  this  tender  innocent  be  flain  ? 
Poor  harmlefs  babe  !   born  in  a  lucklefs  hour, 

Yet  fweet  as  ever  footh'd  a  mother's  pain. 
Muft  thou,  poor  undeferving  infant,  die  ? 

No  !   in  my  bofom  ev'ry  danger  fhun  ; 
A  princefs  fhall  thy  parents  lofs  fupply, 

And  thou  art  worthy  to  be  call'd  her  fon. 


SENECA  himfelf  allows,  that  in  conferring  be/iehts,  the 
prefent  mould  always  be  fuited  to  the  dignity  of  the  receiver. 
Thus  the  rich  receive  large  prefents^  and  ar^  thanked  for  ac- 
cepting 


(    93    ) 

cepting  them.  Men  of  middling  Nations  are  obliged  to  be  con- 
tent with  prefents  fomething  lefs,  while  the  poor  beggar,  who 
may  be  truly  faid  to  want  indeed,  is  thought  to  be  well  paid  if 
a  fingle  farthing  rewards  his  warmeit  felicitations. 

SELF-DENIAL  is  the  moft  exalted  pleafu re ;  and  the 
conqueft  of  evil  habits  is  the  moft  glorious  triumph, 

THE  true  way  to  advance  another's  virtue,  is  to  follow  it ; 
and  the  bell  means  to  cry  down  another's  vice,  is  to  decline  it. 

H  O  W  ought  every  teftimony  of  God's  goodnefs  to  excite 
our  love,  our  gratitude  and  praife !  The  fmalleft  temporal  ad- 
vantage is  a  bleiling,  to  which  we  have  no  title  ;  if  we  have 
food  and  raiment,  they  are  more  than  wc  deferve. 

W  H  Y  are  we  commanded  to  pray,  u  Give  us  this  day 
our  daily  bread, "  if  not  to  teach  us  among  other  things,  our 
daily  dependence  upon  God  as  the  difpenfer  of  all  our  temporal 
bleffings  ?  Our  various  wants  return  with  the  morning ;  and 
to  whom  mould  we  look,  but  to  him  who  is  able  to  fupply 
them  ?  Wc  need  his  direction  through  the  perplexities  and  dif- 
ficulties of  even/ day  :  and  without  his  blefling  and  fupport, 
we  can  effect  nothing  to  any  valuable  purpofe.  In  the  even- 
ing, we  feek  reft  in  vain,  unlefs  he  give  (lumber  to  the  eye-lids, 
and  deep  to  the  eyes :  And  as  there  are  wants  common  to  every 
family,  and  what  all  its  members  conftantly  experience,  they 
ought  certainly  to  unite  in  fupplicating  the  fame  divine  good- 
nefs, and  alfo  in  returning  thanks  for  the  mercies  of  which 
they  have  ail  been  joint  partakers. 

THE  neglect  of  any  fpiritual  duty,  arifes  from  a  dcchnfion 
of  religion  in  the  foul.  Were  we  to  live  mere  under  the  fen- 
fible  enjoyment  of  divine  love,  we  fhouki  be  more  aclive,  vi- 
gorous, and  fteady  in  the  performance  of  every  divine  precept 
or  command.  The  ways  of  God  would  not  then  appear  either 
burthenfome  or  grievous,  but  as  they  truly  are  "  Ways  of 
pleafantnefs,  and  paths  of  peace." 

THE  difcontents  of  the  poor  are  much  eaiier  allayed,  than 
thofe  of  the  rich,  O  N 


I     94     ) 
ON       GO     D. 

W  HAT  tho'  no  objecl  ftrike  upon  the  fight, 
Thy  facred  prefence  is  an  inward  light. 
What  tho'  no  found  (hall  penetrate  the  ear, 
To  liiVning  faith  the  voice  of  truth  is  clear. 
Sincere  devotion  wants  no  outward  fhrine, 
The  centre  of  an  humble  foul  is  thine. 
There  may  I  worfhip,  and  there  may 'ft  thou  raife 
Thy  feat  of  glory,  and  thy  throne  of  grace ; 
Yea,  fix  (if  Chriil  my  advocate  appear) 
The  ftrhft  tribunal  of  thy  jufiice  there. 
Let  each  vain  thought,  and  each  impure  defire, 
Meet  in  thy  wrath  with  a  confuming  fire. 
Thou  too  canit  raife  (the'  puni mine  for  fin) 
The  joys  of  peaceful  penitence  witnin  ; 
Thy  juilice  and  thy  mercy  both  are  fweet ; 
Thou  rnak'ft  our  fuiferings  and  falvation  meet. 
Eefal  me  then,  whatever  God  fnall  pleafe, 
His  wounds  are  healing  and  his  griefs  give  eafe ; 
He  is  the  true  phyfician  of  the  foul, 
Applies  the  med'cine  that  can  make  it  whole. 
I'll  do,  I'll  fuffer,  whatfoe'er  he  wills  ; 
I  fee  his  aim  thro'  all  thefe  tranfient  ills  : 
'Tis  to  enfure  a  falutary  grief, 
To  fit  the  mind  to  abfolute  relief ; 
Till  purg'd  from  ev'ry  falfe  and  finite  love, 
Dead  to  the  world,  alive  to  things  above  ; 
The  foul  renew'd,  as  in  its  firft  form'd  youth, 
Shall  worfhip  God  in  fpirit  and  in  trudi. 


NONE  ihould  be  fo  implacable,  as  to  refufe  an  humble 
fubmiilion  :  he  whofe  very  beft  actions  muft  be  feen  with  favcur- 
able  allowance,  cannot  be  too  mild,  moderate  and  forgiving. 

A  PASSIONATE  temper  renders  a  man  unfit  for  ad- 
vice j  deprives  him  of  his  reafon  :  robs  him  of  all  that  is  great 
or  noble  in  his  nature ;  it  makes  him  unfit  for  conversation  ; 

deftroj 


(     9?     ) 

deftroys  friendfhip  ;  changes  juflice  into  cruelty  ;  and  turns  all 
order  into  confufion. 

THERE  is  no  greater  fign  of  a  mean  and  fordid  fpirit, 
favs  Cicero,  than  to  doat  upon  riches  ;  nor  is  any  thing  more 
magnificent,  than  to  lay  them  out  freely  in  ads  of  bounty  and 
liberality. 

A  F  I  R  M  truft  in  the  affiflance  of  an  Almighty  being,  na- 
turally produces  patience,  hope,  cheerfulnefs,  and  all  other  dif- 
pofitions  of  mind,  that  alleviate  thofe  calamities  which  we 
are  not  able  to  remove. 

DIVINE  Providence  always  places  the  remedy  near  the 
evil.  There  is  not  any  duty,  to  which  Providence  has  net  an- 
nexed a  blefling  ;  nor  any  affliction,  for  which  he  has  not  pro- 
vided a  remedy. 

A  G  O  O  D  confeience,  and  a  contented  mind,  will  make 
:  a  man  happy  in  ail  conditions, 

H  E  that  overcomes  his  paflions,  conquers  his  greatell  ene- 
j  mies. 

THE  defire  of  being  thought  wife,  is  often  an  hinderance  to 
•being  fo  ;  for  fuch  a  one  is  more  folicitous  to  let  the  world  fee 
what  knowledge  he  hath,  than  to  learn  that  which  he  wants. 

A  WISE  man  endeavours  to  fhine  in  himfelf ;  a  foci  to 
outfhine  others.  The  firft  is  humbled  by  the  fenfe  of  his  own 
infirmities ;  the  laft  is  lifted  up  by  the  difcovery  of  thofe  which 
he  obferves  in  others.  The  wife  man  confiders  what  he  wants ; 
and  the  fool,  what  he  abounds  in.  The  wife  man  is  happy 
when  he  gains  his  own  approbation  ;  and  the  fool,  when  he  re- 
commends himfelf  to  the  applaufe  of  thofe  about  him. 

N  O  knowledge,  which  terminates  in  curiofity  and  fpecula- 
tion,  is  comparable  to  that  which  is  of  ufe ;  and  of  all  ufeful 
knowledge,  that  is  moll  fo  which  confifh  in  a  due  care  and  juft 
notion  of  ourfelves. 

OF 


(    96    ) 

OF  all  parts  of  wifdom,  the  practice  is  the  belt.  Socrates 
was  cfleemed  the  wifeft  man  of  his  time,  becaufe  he  turned  his 
acquired  knowledge  into  morality,  and  aimed  at  goodnefs  more 
than  greatnefs. 

THO'  it  be  an  argument  of  a  great  wit,  to  give  ingenious 
reafons  for  many  wonderful  appearances  in  nature  ;  vet,  it  is  an 
evidence  of  fmall  judgment,  to  be  pofitive  in  any  thing  but  the 
knowledge  of  our  own  ignorance. 

THE  higheft  learning  is,  to  be  wife  ;  and  the  greatest  wif- 
dom 15,  to  be  good. 

8  T  E  A  D  of  labouring  in  nice  learning  and  intricate 
fciences  ;  inftead  of  trifling  away  precious  time  upon  the  fecrets 
of  nature,  or  myfteries  of  ilite,  it  were  better  to  feek  that  only 
which  is  really  and  fubitantially  good. 

TRUE  philofophy,  fays  Plato,  confifts  more  in  fidelity, 
conrlancy,  jiutice,  fmcerity,  and  in  the  love  of  our  duty,  than 
in  a  great  capacity. 

THE  bcft  people  need  afflictions  for  trial  of  their  virtue. 
How  can  we  exercife  the  grace  of  contentment,  if  all  things 
fucceed  well  ?    Or  that  of  forgivenefs,  if  we  have  no  enemies  ? 

THE  moft  excellent  of  all  moral  virtues,  is  to  have  a  low 
efteem  of  ourielves,  which  has  this  particular  advantage,  that 
it  attracts  not  the  Qnvy  of  others. 

IF  a  man  mould  forfake  a  kingdom,  ?~i\d  all  the  world,  if  he 
cannot  renounce  himfelf,  he  has  hardly  done  any  tiling. 

WHATSOEVER  convenience  may  be  thought  to  be 
in  falfnood  and  diffimulation,   it  is  foon  over  ;  but  the  incon- 
venience of  it  is  perpetual,  becaufe  it  brings  a  man  u\ 
continual  jealoufy  and  fufpicion  ;  fo  that  lie  is  not  believed 
when  he  (peaks  truth,  nor   trufted,    wL 
honeflly. 

Refle* 


(     97     J 

Reflection  by  a  Perfon  in  his  Sixtieth  Year. 

PLAC'D  on  the  world's  diftracled  ftage, 

And  forc'd  to  ad  a  joylefs  part, 
Whv  lhould  I  fhrink  at  creeping  age, 

Which  warns  me  friendly  to  depart  ? 
Why  do  I  rather  not  rejoice, 

That  I  my  haplefs  courfc  have  ran  ? 
And  ruFd  by  wifdom's  Heavenly  voice, 

Make  my  lad  exit  like  a  man. 
Fierce,  tho'  affliction's  billows  roll, 

And  deep  diftrefs  deforms  the  fcene  ; 
If  innocence  fecure  the  foul, 

Vain  is  their  rage,  the  tumult  vain* 
Serene  (he  fmiles,  yet  fmiling  (ighs, 

To  quit  this  darkfome,  dull  abode, 
Wifhing  to  win  her  native  (kies, 

And  find  a  lading  reft  in  God, 
Weari'd,  then  let  me  quit  the  ftrife, 

Kind  Heaven  aftent  and  {^t  me  free  ! 
For  why  mould  I  be  fond  of  life, 

When  life  itfelf  is  tird  of  me  J 

ORDER  is  Heaven's  firft  law,   and  this  confeft, 
Some  are,  and  muft  be,  greater  than  the  reft; 
More  rich,  more  wife — but  who  infers  from  hence, 
That  fuch  are  happier,  (hocks  ail  common  fenfe. 

B  E  careful  not  to  endeavour  to  imitate  other  men's  ways, 
-except  it  be  in  their  efTential  virtues. 

THE  diftributicn  of  all  our  temporal  mercies  is  wifely  re- 
gulated by  the  hand  of  God.     Some  men  are  favoured  with  a 


,j  j ,__       — v^.»  wviuv     liiv^n    «.1V  itt\umtU     Willi    tX 

large  (hare  of  worldly  blenmgs ;  feme  with  things  juft  necef- 
fary  and  convenient ;  while  feme,  equally  deferring,  have  fcarce- 
ly  whereon  to  lay  their  heads.  The  difpofal  of  thefe  things 
is  the  work  of  God:  He  maketh  poor  and  maketh  rich;  he 
bringeth  low  and  lifteth  up,  and  none  have  a  right  to  fay  to 
him,  what  dceft  thou  ?  I  EVERY 


(    98    ) 

EVERY  ferious  perfon  muft  trace  the  marks  of  an  invifi- 
ble  hand  in  all  the  variegated  paths  of  life.  Ke  muft  acknow- 
ledge, that  it  is  not  in  man  who  walketh,  to  direci  his  fteps ; 
yea,  he  will  rejoice  to  find  they  are  ordered  by  the  Lord,  who  de- 
lighteth  in  his  way.  And  were  we  more  obfervant  of  the  hand  of 
Providence,  many  of  our  enquiries  would  be  needlefs ;  we 
fhould  fee  the  path  marked  out  before  us,  and  if  at  any  time 
through  miftake  we  mould  turn  either  to  the  right  hand  or  to 
the  left,  we  fhould  hear  a  frill  fmall  voice  whifpering  behind, 
M  this  is  the  way,  walk  in  it." 


The  contented    Swain, 

I  SE  E  K   not  India's  pearly  fhore, 
Nor  weftern  climes  will  I  explore  ; 
Nor  midfl  the  world's  tumultuous  ftrife, 
Will  wafle  what  now  remains  of  life. 
I  feek  not  aught  that  me  may  lead, 
From  tufted  grove  or  flow'ry  mead; 
Or  from  my  native  fwains  among, 
Who  liften  to  my  artlefs  fong. 
For  nought  Golconda's  gems  avail, 
In  this  fequefter'd  humble  dale  ; 
Nor  joys  can  crowded  cities  yield, 
Like  thofe  of  hill  or  daifi'd  field. 
Calm  as  the  fummer  ev'ning's  fun, 
May  here  my  glafs  of  life  be  run  ! 
And  bright  as  is  his  parting  ray, 
My  profpect  of  a  future  day ! 
Mean  while,  the  lab'ring  hind  to  chear. 
To  wipe  the  widow's  falling  tear, 
Such  tranquil  pleafures  will  beftow, 
As  riot's  fons  can  never  know. 
This,  this  be  mine  !  the  fpeaking  eye 
Shall  then  the  fculptur'd  ftone  fupply  ; 
As  o'er  my  turf  the  ruftics  bend, 
The  poor  fiiall  fay,  "  here  lies  our  friend." 

TLE 


(     99     ) 

LET  your  promifesbe  fincere,  and  fo  prudently  considered, 
as  not  to  exceed  the  reach  of  your  ability  ;  he  who  promifes 
more  than  he  is  able  to  perforin,  difgraces^  himfelf ;  and  he 
who  does  not  perform  what  he  has  promifed,  is  falfe  to  his 
friend. 

THE  immortal  mind,  perhaps,  will  quit  a  cottage  with 
lefs  regret  than  it  would  leave  the  fplendour  of  a  palace  ;  and 
the  breathlefs  duft  fleep  as  quietly  beneath  the-grafly  turf,  as 
under  the  parade  of  a  coftly  monument.  Thefe  are  infignifi- 
cant  circumftances,  to  a  fpirit  doomed  to  an  endlefs  duration  of 
mifery  or  blifs. 

AS  the  belief  of  a  God  is  the  foundation  of  all  religion, 
there  can  be  no  religion  without  faith  ;  but  as  true  religion  in- 
cludes virtue,  religion  can  not  be  perfect  without  works. 


A  M  A  Z  '  D,  the  wonders  of  thy  God  behold  ! 
And  meditate  his  mercies  manifold. 
Oh  !  happy  time,   when  making  oft  this  clay, 
The  "human   foul  at  liberty  mail  (tray 
Thro'  all  the  works  of  nature  !  mall  defcry 
Thofe  objects  which  evade  the  mortal  eye  ; 
No  diftance,  then,  (hall  ftretch  beyond  its  flight, 
No  fmallnefs  Tcape  its  penetrating  fight  ; 
But,  in  their  real  effence,  fhali  be  (hewn 
Worlds  unexplor'd,  creations  yet  unknown. 


REFLECTIONS. 

WHAT,  oh !  my  heart,  overflowing  with  happinefs  !  are 
the  fentiments  that  ought  to  fpring  up  in  thee,  when  admit- 
ted, either  in  the  folemnities  of  public  worfhip,  or  the  retired- 
nefs  of  private  devotion,  into  the  more  immediate  prefence  of 
thy  Maker — who  does  not  govern,  but  to  blefs !  whofe  divine 
commands  are  fent  to  fuccour  human  reafon  in  fearch  of  hap- 
pinefs ! 


(     ioo     ) 

plnefs!  Let  thy  law,  Almighty  !  be  the  rule,  and  thy  glory 
the  conftant  end,  of  all  I  do.  Let  me  not  build  virtue  on  any 
notions  of  honour,  but  of  honour  to  thy  name.  Let  me  not 
fink  piety  in  the  boaft  of  benevolence  ;  my  love  of  God  in  the 
love  of  my  fellow -creatures.  Can  good  be  of  human  growth  ! 
No — it  is  thy  gift,  Almighty,  and  All-good  !  Let  not  thy 
bounties  remove  the  donor  from  my  thought ;  nor  the  love  of 
pleafures  make  me  forfake  the  fountain  from  which  they  flow. 
When  joys  entice,  let  me  alii  their  title  to  my  heart :  When 
evils  threaten,  let  me  fee  thy  mercy  mining  through  the 
cloud,  and  difcern  the  great  hazard  of  having  all  to  my  wifh. 
In  an  age  of  fuch  licentioufncfs,  let  me  not  take  comfort 
from  the  number  of  thofe  who  do  amifs  ;  an  omen  rather 
of  public  rmn,  than  of  private  fafety.  Let  the  joys  of  the 
multitude  lefs  allure  than  alarm  me ;  and  their  danger,  not 
example,  determine  my  choice.  In  this  dav  of  domineering 
pleafures,  (o  lower  my  taite  as  to  make  me  relifh  the  comforts 
of  life.  And  in  this  day  of  diiTipation,  O  give  me  thought 
iufHcient  to  preferve  me  from  being  fo  defperate,  as  in  this  per- 
petual flux  of  things,  and  as  perpetual  fwarm  of  accidents,  to 
depend  on  to-morrow  ;  a  dependence  that  is  the  ruin  of  to- 
day, as  that  is .  of  eternity.  Let  my  whole  exillence  be  ever 
before  me,  nor  let  the  terrors  of  the  grave  turn  back  my  fur- 
vev.  When  temptations  arife,  and  virtue  fiaggers,  let  imagi- 
nation found  the  final  trumpet,  and  judgment  lay  hold  on  eter- 
nal life.  In  what  is  well  begun,  grant  me  to  perfevere, 
and  to  know,  that  none  are  wife,  but  they  who  determine 
to  be  wife  frill.  And  fmce,  O  Lord!  the  fear  of  thee 
is  the  beginning  of  wifdom,  and,  in  its  progrefs,  its  fecret 
fhield,  turn  the  world  entirely  out  cf  my  heart,  and  place 
that  guardian  angel,  thy  bldled  fear,  in  its  ftead.  Turn  cut 
a  fooiiih  world,  which  gives  its  money  for  what  is  not  b 
which  hews  out  broken  citlerns,  that  hold  no  water  ;  a  world, 
in  which  even  they,  whole  hands  are  mighty,  have  found  no- 
thing. There  is  "nothing,  Lord  God  Almighty  !  in  Heaven, 
in  earth,  but  thee — I  will  feek  thy  face  ;  bids  thy  name  ;  fing 

•aifes  ;  love   thy  law  ;  do  thy  will;   enjoy  t 
hope  thy  giorv,  till  my  final  hour  !  Thus  (hall  I  grafp  all  that 
can  be  graiped  by  man.     This  will  heighten  good,  and  (ofien 
evil,  in  the  prefent  life  ;  and  when  death  fummens,  I  mall 

jQeep 


(     ioi     ) 

deep  fweetly  in  the  dull,  till  his  mighty  conqueror  bids  the 
trumpet  found,  and  then  fhall  I,  through  his  merits,  awake  to 
eternal  glory. 


ALL  pleafures  are  imperfect  here  below  ; 
Cur  fweeteit  joys    are  mix'd  with  bitter  woe  : 
The  draught  of  blifs,  when  in  our  goblet  call, 
Is  dafh'd  with   grief,  or  ipiit  before  we  tafte. 

CONTENTED  poverty's  no  difirnl  thing, 
Free  from  the  cares  unwieldy  riches  bring  ; 
At  diitance,  both  alike  deceive  cur  view  ; 
Nearer  approached,  they  take  another  hue. 
The  poor  man's  labour  relifhes  his  meat ; 
His  model's  pleafant,  and  his  reft  is  {wqcZ  : 
Not  fo  the  rich,  who  find  their  weari'd  talte 
Pall;d  with  the  profpeel  ib'rous  feaft  ; 

For  what  they  have  more  than  they  can  enjoy, 
Inftead  of  fatisfying,  does  but  cloy. 

The  Divine  Pretence. 

THE  high  and  mighty  King  of  Kings, 
<fe  praife  the  whole  creation  fings, 
Hath   nVd,  in  love  to  human  kind, 
His  I  lage  in  our  mind. — 

The  lines  are  ftrong,  the  piclure  fair, 
No  need  of  anxious  fearch  and  care  ; 
Look  but  within,  and  ilrait  appears, 
The  iignature  all  nature  wears  ! 

V^  here'er  I  am,  howe'er  Oppreft, 
This  Heav'nly  portrait  in  my  oread 
Inspires,  with  conscience  divine, 
And  comfort  flows  from  ev'ry  line  ! 
Thro'  dangers  numberlefs  I  go, 
Yet  weather  ail  the  ftorms  that  blow — 
To  lead  me  to  the  peaceful  fhore, 
My  God  and  guide  is  ilili  before  I 

I    2 


f      **»      } 

At  night,  before  I  clofe  my  eyes, 
And  in  the  morning,  when  I  rife, 
I  pray  for  fafety,  health  and  grace, 
And  ftill  the  Lord  before  me  place  f 
He  fheds  his  odours  round  my  head, 
And  makes  me  fleep  fecure  in  bed  ; 
In  all  the  labours  of  the  day 
He  goes  before  and  points  the  way  I 

Soon  as  my  pailions  wild  prevail, 
And  faith  and  reafon  both  affail  ; 
When  ftrong  temptations  fpread  their  net,. 
."Before  me  ftill  the  Lord  I  fet ; 
His  prefence  can  the  palTions  lay, 
And  teach  them  reafon  to  obey  ; 
Temptation's  charms  foon  difappear, 
And  truth  fucceeds  when  God  is  near  I 

When  forrows  upon  forrows  roll, 
And  iharpeft  arrows  pierce  my  foul  ; 
When  deepeft  funk  in  black  defpair, 
I  lift  my  eyes  and  heart  in  pray'r  I 
Juft  when  all  human  help  had  fail'd, 
And  friend  and  neighbour  nought  avail'd, 
This  belt  of  friends,  in  conftant  view, 
Shews  what  himfelf  alone  can  do  ! 

Thro'  all  the  future  ills  of  life, 
Amidft  contempt,  reproach  and  ftrife, 
I'll  fet  the  Lord  before  me  ftill, 
And  live  obedient  to  his  will  ! 
80  when  thro'  death's  dark  vale  I  move, 
He  will  a  light  before  me  prove  ; 
Conduct  me  fafe  to  endlefs  joy, 
And  mark  me  out  fome  bleft  employ. 


WT  HEN  the  oil  of  grace  actuates  the  foul,  the  wheels  of 
obedience  move  with  celerity  ;  but  when  this  is  wanting,  every 
duty,  if  not  neglected,  will  be  indifferently  performed. 

TRUE 


i 


(     103     ) 

TRUE  happinefs  is  of  a  retired  nature,  and  an  enemy  to 
pomp  and  noife  ;  it  arifes,  in  the  firft  place,  from  the  enjoy- 
ment of  one's  felf ;  and,  in  the  next,  from  the  friendfhip  and 
converfation  of  a  few  felecl:  companions.  It  loves  fhade  and 
folitude,  and  naturally  haunts  groves  and  fountains,  fields  and 
meadows :  In  fhort,  it  feels  every  thing  it  wants  within  itfelf, 
and  receives  no  addition  from  multitudes  of  witnefles  and  fpec- 
tators.  On  the  contrary,  falfe  happinefs  loves  to  be  in  a  crowd, 
and  to  draw  the  eyes  of  the  world  upon  her.  She  does  not  re- 
ceive any  fatisfadUon  from  the  applaufes  which  fhe  gives  her- 
felf,  but  from  the  admiration  which  fhe  raifes  in  others.  She 
flou rimes  in  courts  and  palaces,  theatres  and  afTemblies ;  and 
has  no  exiflence,  but  when  fhe  is  looked  upon. 


I  F  good  we  plant  not,  vice  will  fill  the  mind, 
And  weeds  defpoil  the  fpace  for  flow'rs  defign'd, 
The  human  heart  ne'er  knows  a  ftate  of  reft, 
Bad  tends  to  worfe,  and  better  leads  to  beft  ; 
We  either  gain  or  lofe,  we  fmk  or  rife,  * 
Nor  refts  our  ftruggling  nature  'till  fhe  dies ; 
Thofe  very  paflions  that  our  peace  invade, 
If  rightly  pointed,  bleffings  maybe  made; 
Then  rife,  my  friend,  above  terreftrial  aims, 
Direct  the  ardour  which  your  breafl  inflames 
To  that  pure  region  of  eternal  joys, 
Where  fear  difturbs  not,  nor  poffeflion  cloys  ; 
Beyond  what  fancy  forms  of  rofy  bow'rs 
Or  blooming  chaplets  of  unfading  flow'rs ; 
Fairer  than  e'er  imagination  drew, 
Or  poets  warmefl  viiions  ever  knew  ; 
Prefs  eager  onward  to  thofe  blifsful  plains, 
Where  one  unbounded  fpring  forever  reigns. 


LEARN  to  purfue  virtue  from  the  man  that  is  blind,  who 

md  wil 

SET 


never  makes  a  ftep,   without  firft  examining  the  ground  with 
hisftaff. 


(     io4    ) 

SET  bounds  to  your  zeal  by  difcretion  ;  to  error  by  truth ; 
to  paffion  by  reafon  ;  and  to  divifion  by  charity. 

THE  path  of  virtue  is  the  path  of  peace  ;  in  that  only  we 
can  travel  with  fafety,  or  rationally  hope  to  enjoy  permanent 
pleafures. 

LET  ufelefs  riches  ne'er  engrofs  my  care, 
The  bane  of  piety,  the  mifer's  pray'r  ; 
Yet  let  my  purfe  the  moderate  (tore  contain, 
To  fatisfy  my  wants,  and  eafe  my  pain  ; 
And  when  the  needy  at  my  threshold  ftand, 
To  foothe  their  cares,  and  fill  the  craving  hand. 

CONTENT. 

HAPPY  the  man  (but  oh  !  how  few  we  find) 
Who  feels  the  pleafures  of  a  tranquil  mind  ! 
Who  meets  all  bleiTings  in  content  alone, 
Nor  knows  a  ftation  happier  than  his  own ! 
No  anxious  cares  difturb  his  peaceful  breaft, 
WTith  life  content,  and  with  contentment  bieft ; 
No  pangs  he  feels  to  break  his  calm  repofe  ; 
No  envy  fears,   for  he  no  envy  knows. 
To  man  ftill  faithful,  and  to  God  reiign'd, 
His  body  fubjecl  to  its  lord,  the  mind. 
He  muft  be  good — for  furely  Heav'n  ne'er  meant, 
Without  ft  rid  virtue,  to  beftow  content. 
*Tis  not  the  glory  falfe  ambition  brings, 
The  wealth  of  mifers,  or  the  pow'r  of  kings ; 
Nor  all  the  fleeting  joys  by  man  poflefs'd, 
Can  give  this  earthly  frame  that  Heav'nly  gueft  ; 
Whate'er  the  mufe  of  love  or  glory  fings, 
Virtue  alone  the  facred  ftranger  brings. 

CONSCIENCE  diftafteful  truths  may  tell, 
But  mark  her  facred  leffons  well ! 
WTioever  lives  with  her  at  ftrife, 
Lofes  his  better  friend  for  life* 

THE 


(     ic5    ) 

THE  line  of  human  imderftanding,  is  undoubtedly  too 
frort  to  fathom  the  depths  of  the  divine  difpenfations  ;  and  the 
moll  enlarged  capacity  too  narrow,  to  comprehend  the  ways  of 
infinite  wifdom. 

I  T  is  deferable,  for  the  inward  peace  2nd  eafe  of  men's  own 
minds  within  themfelves,  that  they  mould  not  be  under  the 
power  of  fretful  pa/Tions,  and  the  lailing  refentments  of  a  re- 
vengeful fpirit ;  but  that  they  be  meek  and  gentle,  peaceable, 
and  eafy  to  be  reconciled  ;  which  fweetnefs  of  difpoinion,  im- 
proved upon  religious  principles  into  a  habit  of  meeknefs,  is  a 
virtue,  reflecting  upon  itfelf  that  cairn  and  fedate  fatisfa&ion, 
which  is  in  a  peculiar  manner  a  reward  to  itfelf ;  nor  is.  it  lefs 
beneficial  to  the  public,  as  being  the  great  prefervative  againft 
that  beginning  of  flrife,  which  Solomon  elegantly  compares  to 
the  letting  out  of  water  ;  that  is,  the  opening  of  a  breach, 
which  no  man  can  be  fure  to  flop,  before  it  proceeds  to  the 
moil  calamitous  events. 

THERE  is  no  terreflrial  good,  that  can  yield  that  fub- 
flantial  happinefs,  which  is  fuited  to  the  nature  and  defires  of 
the  human  mind;  and  he  who  thinks  to  find  it  in  any  thing  be- 
neath the  fun,  is  purfuing  a  phantom,  that  will  elude  his 
chafe;  and  if  it  feem  to  loiter  for  his  approach,  it  will  only 
be  to  convince  him  of  his  follv,  to  ihew  him  a  miflake  that  he 
never  faw,  and  of  which  thoufands  never  thought,  till  their 
race  terminated  in  that  country,  from  whence  none  ever  yet 
returned  to  own  their  error,  or  confefs  their  fhame. 

W  OULD  you  the  bloom  of  youth  mould  lail, 
'Tis  virtue  that  mufl  bind  it  fail  ; 
An  eafv  carriage  wholly  free 
From  four  referve  or  levity  ; 
Good-natur'd  mirth,  an  open  heart, 
And  looks  unikiil'"d  in  any  art ; 
Thefe  are  the  charms  that  ne'er  decay, 
Tho'  youth  and  beauty  fade  away  ; 
And  time,  which  all  things  elfe  removes, 
Still  heightens  virtue  and  improves.  BOAST 


(     io6     ) 

BOAST  not  of  health  or  beauty,  or  the  days  of  youth. 
Delay  not  the  care  of  the  foul,  in  hopes  that  you  will  live  to 
old  age,  or  that  you  can  do  all  that  is  required  of  youth, 
with  refpecl  to  religion,  on  a  bed  of  affliction.  Strive,  by 
the  grace  cf  God,  ever  to  be  in  readinefs.  to  go  brace  and 
be  with  our  Saviour,  which  is  infinitely  better  than  all  that 
this  world  can  afford  ;  and  then  you  may  meet  the  king  of 
terrors  with  a  phcid  countenance,  and  a  heart  that  rejoiceth 
in  hope. 

THEY  enjoy  life  beit,  who  are  beft  prepared  for  death  ; 
who  look  not  for  more  happinefs  from  this  world,  than  it  is 
capable  of  giving  ;  who  live  righteoufiy,  foberly  and  piouily  ; 
who  pray  to  God  for  the  bleflings  they  need,  and  receive 
thankfully  all  good  things  as  his  gifts — and  who  can  rejoice 
in  the  animating  hope  of  falvation,  thro'  a  Redeemer, 


W  HEN  you  a  wilder 'd  trav'ler  meet, 
Guide  to  the  road  his  erring  feet  ; 
Or  to  your  roof,  if  late,  invite, 
And  fhield  him  from  the  damps  of  night. 
To  ftill  the  voice  cf  anguilh,  try 
To  wipe  the  tear  from  farrow's  eye  ; 
And  every  good  you  can,  impart 
With  ready  hand,  and  glowing  heart  ; 
So  lhail  ye  pafs,  from  manhood's  ftage, 
Smoothly  along  the  Hope  of  age  ; 
Then  from  the  pleafing  journey  reft, 
In  peaceful  fleep,  belov'd  and  bleft. 


CONTENTMENT. 

FORGET  not  that  thy  flation  on  earth  is  appointed  by 
thewifdom  of  the  eternal  ;  who  knoweth  thy  heart,  who  feeth 
the  vanity  of  all  thy  wilhes,  and  who  in  mercy  often  denieth 
thy  requefts  ;  yet  for  all  reafonable  defires,  for  all  honeft  en- 
deavours, 


{     io7     ) 

cleavours,  his  benevolence  hath  appointed,  in  the  nature  of 
things,  a  probability  of  fuccefs.  The  uneafmefs  thou  feeleft, 
the  misfortunes  thou  bewaileft,  behold  the  root  from  whence 
they  fpring,  even  thine  own  folly,  thine  own  pride,  thine  own 
diltempered  fancy  ;  murmur  not  therefore  at  the  difpenfations 
of  God,  but  correct  thine  own  heart  ;  neither  fay  within  thy- 
felf,  if  1  had  wealth  or  power,  .or  leifure,  I  ihould  be  happy  ; 
for  know,  they  all  of  them  bring  to  their  feveral  poffelfors  their 
peculiar  inconveniencies. 

THE  poor  man  feethnot  the  vexations  and  anxieties  of  the 
rich  ;  he  feeleth  not  the  difficulties  and  perplexities  of  power, 
neither  the  vrearifomenefs  of  leifure,  and  therefore  it  is  that  he 
repineth  at  his  own  lot.  But  envy  not  the  appearance  of  hap- 
pinefs  in  any  man,  for  thcu  knoweft  not  his  griefs.  To  be 
fatisfied  with  a  little,  is  the  greateft  wifdom  ;  and  he  that  en- 
creafeth  his  riches,  encreafeth  his  cares  ;  but  a  contented  mind 
is  a  hidden  treafure,  and  trouble  findeth  it  not.  Yet  if  thou 
fuffereft  not  the  allurements  of  fortune  to  rob  thee  of  juftice  or 
temperance,  or  charity  or  modefly,  even  riches  themfelves  mail 
not  make  thee  unhappy ;  but  hence  (halt  thou  learn,  that  the 
cup  of  felicity,  pure  and  unmixed,  is  by  no  means  a  draught  for 
mortal  man. 

Virtue  is  the  race  which  God  hath  appointed  him  to 
run,  and  happinefs  the  goal  which  none  can  arrive  at,  till  he 
hath  iinifhed  his  courfe,  and  received  his  crown  in  the  manfions 
of  eternity. 


An  Hymn  to  Contentment, 

LOVELY,  lafting  peace  of  mind, 
Sweet  delight  of  human  kind, 
Heav'nly  born  and  bred  on  high 
To  crown  the  fa v' rites  of  the  Iky, 
With  more  of  happinefs  below 
Than  victors  in  a  triumph  know. 
Whither,  oh  !  whither,  art  thou  fled, 
To  lay  thy  meek  contented  head  ? 

What 


(     io8     ) 

What  happy  region  doft  thou  pleafe 
To  make  the  feat  of  charms  and  eafe  ? 

Ambition  fearches  all  its  fphere 
Of  pomp  and  ftate  to  meet  thee  there ; 
Encreafing  avarice  would  find 
Thy  prefence  in  its  gold  enfhrin'd ; 
The  bold  advent'rer  ploughs  his  way 
7  hro'  rocks,  amidft  the  foaming  fea, 
To  gain  thy  love,  and  then  perceives 
Thou  wert  not  in  the  rocks  and  waves. 

The  filent  heart  wrhich  grief  aiTails, 
Treads  foft  and  lonefome  o'er  the  vales ; 
Sees  daifies  open,  rivers  run, 
And  feeks,  as  I  have  vainly  done, 
Amufing  thought ;  but  learns  to  know 
That  folitude's  the  nurfe  of  woe. 
No  real  happinefs  is  found 
In  trailing  purple  on  the  ground ; 
Or  in  a  foul,  exalted  high, 
To  range  the  circuit  of  the  fky ; 
Converfe  with  ftars  above,  and  know 
All  nature  in  its  forms  below  ; 
The  reft  it  feeks — in  feeking  dies, 
And  doubts  at  laft  for  knowledge  rife. 
*Twas  thus,  as  under  fhade  I  flood, 
I  fung  my  wifhes  to  the  wood  ; 
And,  loft  in  thought,  no  more  perceiv'd 
The  branches  whifper'd  as  they  wav'd  ; 
It  feem'd  as  all  the  quiet  place 
Confefs'd  the  prefence  of  the  grace, 
When  thus  fhe  fpoke — go  rule  thy  will, 
Bid  thy  wild  paftions  all  be  Rill  ; 
Know  God,  and  bring  thy  heart  to  knovr 
The  joys  which  from  religion  flow. 
Then  ev'ry  grace  mall  prove  its  gueft, 
And  I'll  be  there  to  crown  the  reft. 
Oh  !  by  yonder  mofy  feat, 
In  my  hours  of  fweet  retreat, 
Might  I  thus  my  foul  employ, 
With  fenfe  of  gratitude  and  joy. 

Rais'd 


(     iog    ) 

Rais'd,  as  antient  prophets  were, 

In  Heav'nly  vinon,  praife,  and  pray'r  ; 

Pleafing  all  men,  hurting  none, 

Pleas'd  and  blefs'd  with  God  alone. 

Then  while  the  gardens  take  my  fight, 

With  all  the  colours  of  delight, 

While  filver  waters  glide  along, 

To  pleafe  my  ear  and  court  my  fong, 

I'll  lift  my  voice,  and  tune  my  firing, 

And  thee,  great  Source  of  Nature,  fing  ! 

The  fun,  that  walks  his  airy  way, 

To  light  the  world  and  give  the  day  ; 

The  moon,  that  mines  with  borrow 'd  light, 

The  ftars,  that  glad  the  gloomy  night, 

The  feas,  that  roll  unnumber'd  waves, 

The  wood,  that  fpreads  its  fhady  leaves, 

The  field,  whofe  ears  conceal  the  grain^ 

The  yellow  treafure.of  the  plain  ; 

All  of  thefe,  and  all  I  fee 

Shou'd  be  fung,  and  fung  by  me  ; 

They  fpeak  their  Maker  as  they  can, 

But  want,  and  afk,  the  tongue  of  man. 

Go  fearch  among  your  idle  dreams, 

Your  bufy  or  your  vain  extremes, 

And  find  a  life  of  equal  blifs, 

Or  own  the  next  begun  in  this. 

..<-«s><s><s><s><s><®  ••♦- 

GRATITUDE. 

THERE  is  not  a  more  pleaiing  exercife  of  the  mind, 
than  gratitude.  It  is  accompanied  with  fuch  an  inward  fatii- 
faclion,  that  the  duty  is  fufficiently  rewarded  by  the  perform 
mance.  It  is  not  like  the  practice  of  many  other  virtues,  dif- 
ficult and  painful,  but  attended  with  fo  much  pleafure,  that 
were  there  no  pofitive  command  which  enjoined  it,  nor  any  re- 
compence  laid  up  for  it  hereafter,  a  generous  mind  would  in- 
dulge in  it  for  the  natural  gratification  that  accompanies  it.  If 
gratitude  is  due  from  man  to  man,  how  much  more  from  man 

K  to 


(      »o     ) 

to  his  Maker.  The  Supreme  Being  does  not  only  confer  up- 
on us  thofe  bounties,  which  proceed  more  immediately  from 
his  hand,  but  even  thofe  benefits  which  are  conveyed  to  us  by 
others.  Every  bleffing  we  enjoy,  by  what  means  foever  it  may 
be  derived  upon  us,  is  the  gift  of  him  who  is  the  great  Author 
of  Good,  and  Father  of  Mercies. 

W  HEN  thou  haft  done  a  kindnefs,  or  good  office  to  any, 
be  fure  thou  boaft  not  of  it.  It  is  the  employment  of  a  great 
foul,  rather  tc  do  things  worthy  to  be  admired,  than  to  admire 
■what  himfelf  hath  done. 

NOTHING  but  virtue  is  capable  of  making  us  happy ; 
if  other  advantages  contribute  thereto  in  fome  meafure,  it  is 
only  in  as  much  as  virtue  bears  them  company. 

SUPINENESS  and  effeminacy  have  ruined  more  con- 
flitutions,  than  were  ever  deilroyed  by  excelfive  labours  ;  mo- 
derate exercife,  far  from  prejudicing,  ftrengthens  and  confoli- 
dates  the  body. 

W  E  ought  never  to  think  too  lightly  of  other  people's  com- 
plaints ;  but  to  regard  the  forrovvs  of  our  fellow-creatures  with 
ientiments  of  humanity  and  companion. 


MAN  mould  weigh  well  the  .nature  of  himfelf, 
The  varying  frailneis  of  this  flattering  world, 
And  the  true  excellence  of  Heav'Vs  high  Lord  ; 
Then  would  he  this  deipife,  and  truft  in  him. 
The  world  deceives  us  all.     In  God  is  truth. 
Let  not  thy  riches  or  thy  power  prevail  " 
To  fwell  thy  bofom  with  conceits  of  pride  ; 
Look  back,  remember  thofe  thou  hail  feen  high, 
And  mark,  if  thou  hail  never  feen  them  fink  ; 
Let  this  teach  thee.     One  end  awaits  us  all  I 
And  when  inevitable  death  commands, 
That  we  mould  follow  to  his  dreary  realm, 
Matters  it  much,  if  from  a  royal  couch, 
Or  from  a  mattrefs,  thrown  upon  the  ground, 
We  rife  to  take  our  journey.  The 


(  III  ) 

The  Hufbandman's  Meditation  in  the  Field. 

WITH  toilfome  fteps  when  I  purfue, 

O'er  breaking  clods,  the  plough -{hare's  way, 
Lord  !   teach  my  mortal  eye  to  view 

My  native  diffoluble  clay. 
And  when  with  feed  I  ftrew  the  earth, 

To  thee  all  praifes  let  me  give, 
Whofe  hand  prepar'd  me  for  the  birth, 

Whole  breath  inform'd  and  bade  me  live. 
Pleas'd,  I  behold  the  {lately  ftem 

Support  its  bearded  honour's  load  ; 
Thus,  Lord  !  fuftain'd  by  thee,  I  came 

To  manhood,  thro'  youth's  dang'rous  road. 
Purging  from  noxious  herbs  the  grain, 

Oh  !   may  I  learn  to  purge  my  mind 
From  fin,  rank  weed  of  deeper!  {tain, 

Nor  leave  one  baleful  root  behind. 
When  blafts  deftroy  the  op'nmg  ear, 

Life,  thus  replete  with  various  woe„ 
Warns  me  to  fhun,  with  itudious  care, 

Pride,  my  moft  deadly  latent  foe. 
When  harvefl  comes,  the  yellow  crop 

Prone  to  the  reaper's  fickle  yields  ; 
And  I  beneath  death's  fey  the  muft  drop, 

And  foon  or  late  forfake  thefe  fields. 
When  future  crops,  in  filent  hoards, 

Sleep,  for  a  while  to  fervice  dead  ; 
Thy  emblem  this,   oh  grave  !  affords, 

The  path  of  life  which  all  muft  tread. 

EVENING    HYMN. 

INDULGENT  God,  whofe  bounteous  care 

O'er  all  thy  works  is  fhewn, 
Oh !  let  my  grateful  praife  and  pray'r 

Afcend  before  thy  throne. 
What  mercies  has  this  day  beftow'd, 

How  largely  haft  thou  Weft, 
My  cup  with  plenty  overflowed, 

And 


t  ***  } 

And  with  content  my  breaft. 
Safe,   'midft  a  thousand  latent  fnares, 

Thy  careful  hand  has  led, 
And  now,  exempt  from  anxious  cares 

I  pTefs  the  downy  bed. 
I  fall  this  night  into  thy  arms, 

Which  I  have  prov'd  fo  kind  ; 
Oh  !  keep  my  body  from  all  harms, 

And  from  all  fins  my  mind. 
Let  balmy  (lumbers  clofe  my  eyes, 

From  pain  and  ficknefs  free ; 
And  let  my  waking  fancy  rife, 

To  meditate  on  thee. 
So  blefs  each  future  day  and  night 

'Till  life's  fond  fcene  is  o'er, 
And  then,  to  realms  of  endlefs  light, 

Oh  !  aid  my  foul  to  foar. 

A  little  Ode  to  a  little  Maid,  on  her  firft  going  out  after 
her   Birth. 

LITTLE  zephyrs,  loves  and  graces, 

Bid  each  chilling  wind  be  laid, 
Shelter'd  in  your  warm  embraces, 

See  where  comes  my  little  maid. 
With  your  guardian  wings  protect  her, 

Every  motion  hover  o'er  ; 
Thro'  her  little  path  direft  her, 

She  ne'er  ventur'd  out  before. 
Forth  me  comes,  a  new  born  creature, 

How  her  little  blue  eyes  range  ! 
Wonder  fits  on  every  feature, 

All  around  is  gay  and  ftrange. 
Couldlt  thou,  little  maid,  but  paint  me, 

What  thy  little  fancy  warms, 
Or  thy  little  tongue  acquaint  me 

Midit  this  glitter  what  moil  charms. 
To  a  ftranger  all's  inviting, 

All  a  morning  beauty  wears  ; 
Be  the  world,  as  now,  delighting, 

Tafte 


(     H3     ) 

Tafte  its  joys,  but  not  its  cares ! 
Pity,  gentleft  child  of  Heav'n, 

Little  maid  will  thee  attend  ; 
Innocence  is  alio  given 

As  thy  guardian,   as  thy  friend. 
She  fhall  wake  thy  heart  to  pleamres, 

Such  as  virtue  can  difclofe  ; 
Give  thee  love  and  friendfhip's  treafures> 

Strew  thy  path  with  many  a  rofe. 
As  in  years,  in  wifdom  growing, 

Never  from  her  fide  depart ; 
Thro'  thy  future  life  ftill  mewing 

She  had  form'd  thy  youthful  heart. 
Let  the  falfe  world  ne'er  confound  thee, 

From  its  vices  turn  thine  ear  ; 
Shun  the  bad  examples  round  thee, 

Give  them  but  a  figh  ! — a  tear  ! 
Thus  felf-guarded,  thus  defended, 

Thy  experience  fhall  confefs, 
Spite  of  what's  by  fools  pretended. 

Virtue  is  true  happinefs ! 
Such  a  blamelefs  traft  purfuing, 

Thy  perfection's  fenfe  fhall  tell ; 
Oft  this  little  ode  reviewing, 

Little  maid,  I  wilh  thee  well. 


THE    CHURCH-YARD. 

THINK,  oh  my  foul,  that  while  friends  or  (hangers  are 
engaged  on  this  fpot,  and  reading  the  date  of  my  departure 
hence,  thou  wilt  be  fixed  under  a  deciiive  and  unchangeable 
fentence,  rejoicing  in  the  rewards  of  time  well  improved,  or 
fuifering  the  forrows  which  fhall  attend  the  abu/e  of  it,  in  an 
unknown  world  of  happinefs  or  miferv, 

^  MODESTY  feldom  refides  in  a  breaft,  that  is  not  en- 
riched with  nobler  virtues, 

Kt  MODESTY 


(  114.  ) 

MODESTY  is  always,  and  juftry,  fuppofed  to  be  a  con- 
comitant of  merit ;  and  every  appearance  of  it  is  winning  and 

prepoiTefTing. 

PRAISE  beftow'd  on  living  merit,  is  often  found  to  in- 
jure the  goodnefs  it  applauds. 

THE  ingratitude  of  the  world,  can  never  deprive  us  of  the 
confcious  happinefs  of  having  acled  with  humanity  ourfelves. 


T  O  thee,  oh  God  !  thy  fuppliant  lifts  his  eyes, 

To  thee  Supreme,  Omnipotent  and  Juft ; 
On  thee  alone  for  fuccour  he  relies, 

And  in  thy  goodnefs  places  all  his  truit. 
Teach  me,  with  patience,  meekly  to  fubmit 

To  whatfoe'er  thy  wifdom  judges  befl ; 
To  fay,  with  humble  job — the  Lord  thinks  fit, 

M  Giving  or  taking  ht  his  name  be  bleft." 

SURE  'tis  a  ferious  thing  to  die  !  My  foul, 
What  a  ftrange  moment  muft  it  be,  when  near 
Thy  journey's  end,  thou  hall  the  gulph  in  view  ! 
That  awful  gulph,  no  mortal  e'er  repafs'd, 
To  tell  what's  doing  on  the  other  fide. 

THE  wretch,  condemn'd  with  life  to  part, 

Still,  ftill  on  hope  relies  ; 
And  ev'ry  pang  that  rends  the  heart, 

Bids  expectation  rife. 
Hope,  like  the  glim'ring  taper's  light, 

Adorns  and  cheers  the  way  ; 
And  itill,  as  darker  grows  the  night, 

Emits  a  brighter  ray. 


MODESTY  is  not  only  an  ornament,  but  alfo  a  guard 
to  yirtue,    It  is  a  kind  of  quick  and  deilcate  feeling  in  the 

foul, 


(  *H  ) 

foul,  which  makes  her  ihrink  and  withdraw  herfelf  from  every 
thing  that  has  danger  in  it.  It  is  fuch  an  exquifite  fenfibity, 
as  warns  her  to  fhun  the  firft  appearance  of  every  thing  which 
is  hurtful. 

RICHES,  in  the  hand  of  a  beneficent  man,  are  a  blefling 
to  the  public.  Such  an  one  is  a  fteward  to  Providence,  and 
the  noble  means  of  correcting  the  inequalities  of  fortune,  of 
relieving  the  miferable,  and  fpreading  happinefs  to  all  that  are 
within  die  reach  of  his  acquaintance. 


The  Wife's  Confolation  to  her  Hufband  under  Affliftion. 

N  O  more,  lov'd  partner  of  my  foul, 

At  difappointment  grieve, 
Can  flowing  tears  our  fate  controul, 

Or  fighs  our  woes  relieve  ? 
Adverfity  is  virtue's  fchool, 

To  thofe  who  right  difcern  ; 
Let  us  obferve  each  painful  rale, 

And  each  hard  leifon  learn. 
When  wintry  clouds  obfeure  the  fky, 

And  Heav'n  and  earth  deform, 
If  fix'd  the  itrong  foundations  lie, 

The  caftle  braves  the  ftorm. 
Thus,  fix'd  on  faith's  unfailing  rock, 

Let  us  endure  awhile 
Misfortune's  rude  impetuous  fhock, 

And  glory  in  our  toil. 
Ill  fortune  cannot  always  laft ; 

Or,  tho'  it  mould  remain, 
Yet  we  each  painful  moment  hafte, 

A  better  world  to  gain — 
Where  calumny  no  more  fhall  wound, 

Nor  faithlefs  friends  deftroy  ; 
Where  innocence  and  truth  are  crown'd 

With  never-fading  joy, 

GOOD 


(     n6    ) 

GOOD  difcourfe  is  but  the  reflection  or  fhadow  of  wif- 
dom  ;  the  pure  and  folid  fubftance,  is  good  actions. 

THERE  can  be  no  true  and  iincere  pleafure  in  any  finful 
and  vicious  courfe,  tho'  it  be  attended  with  all  the  pomp  and 
fplendour  of  outward  happinefs  and  profperity ;  for  wherever 
fin  and  vice  is,  there  muft  be  guilt ;  and  wherever  guilt  is,  the 
mind  will  be  refllefs  and  unquiet. 

INDUSTRIOUS  wifdom  often  prevents  what  lazy  folly 
thinks  inevitable.  Induftry  argues  an  ingenious,  great  and 
generous  difpofition  of  foul,  by  unweariedly  purfuing  things 
in  the  faireft  light,  and  difdaining  to  enjoy  the  fruit  of  other 
men's  labours,  without  deferring  it. 

CONCEITEDNESS  and  ignorance  are  a  moft  un- 
happy composition  ;  for  none  are  fo  invincible  as  the  half- 
witted, who  know  juft  enough  to  excite  their  pride,  but  not  fo 
much  as  to  cure  their  ignorance. 

ENDEAVOUR  to  be  religious  without  fuperftition  ; 
juft  without  rigour  ;  merciful  without  partiality ;  cautious 
without  fear  ;  valiant  without  ralhnefs ;  and  great  without 
pride. 

T  O  endeavour  not  to  pleafe,  is  ill  nature ;  altogether  to  ne- 
gleft  it,  folly  ;  and  to  overftrain  for  it,  vanity  and  dciign. 


WHEN  winds  the  mountain-oak  afTail, 

And  lay  its  glories  wafte, 
Content  may  flumber  in  the  vale 

Unconfcious  of  the  blaft. 

SWEET  are  the  jefs'min's  breathing  flow'rs, 
Sweet  the  foft  falling  vernal  fhow'rs, 
Sweet  is  the  gloom  the  grove  affords, 
And  fweet  the  notes  of  warb'ling  birds ; 
But  not  the  groves,  nor  rains  nor  flow'rs, 

*  Nor 


(     "7     ) 

Nor  all  the  feather  'd  fongfters  pow'rs, 

Can  ever  fweet  or  pleafing  be 

O  !  lovely  freedom,  without  thee. 

TEACH  me  between  the  two  extremes  to  glide, 
Not  brave,  the  ftream,  nor  fwim  with  ev'ry  tide, 
But  more  with  charity,  than  zeal  pofieit, 
Keep  my  own  faith,  yet  not  condemn  the  reft. 


RELIGION  better  qualifies  all  forts  of  men,  and  makes 
them  in  public  affairs  the  more  ferviceable  ;  governors  apter 
to  rule  with  confcience;  and  inferiors,  for  confcience  fake,  more 
willing  to  obey. 

LIBERALITY  is  never  fo  beautiful  or  engaging,  as 
when  the  hand  is  concealed  which  beftows  the  gift. 

OECONOMY  is  no  difgrace,  it  is  better  living  on  3 
little,  than  outliving  a  great  deal. 


HOLY-DAYS. 

SOME  Chriftians  to  the  Lord  obferve  a  day, 

While  others  to  the  Lord  obferve  it  not  ; 
And  tho'  thefe  feem  to  choofe  a  difFrent  way, 

Yet  both  at  lafl  to  the  fame  point  are  brought* 
Who  for  the  obfervance  pleads,  may  reafon  thus— 

<f  As  on  this  day  our  Saviour  and  our  king 
Perform'd  fome  glorious  ad  of  love  for  us, 

We  keep  the  time  in  mem-ry  of  the  thing." 
Hence  he  to  Jefus  points  his  good  intent, 

With  pray'rs  and  praifes  celebrates  his  name  ; 
A.nd  as  to  Chriit  alone  his  love  is  meant, 

The  Lord  accepts  it — and  who  dares  to  blame  ? 
For  tho'  the  fhell  indeed  is  not  the  meat, 

'Tis  not  rejected  when  the  meat's  within ; 
Tho*  fuperftition  is  a  vain  conceit, 

Commemo* 


(   m  ) 

Commemoration  furely  is  no  fin. 
He  likewife,  that  to  days  has  no  regard, 

The  fhadow  only  for  the  fubflance  quits ; 
Towards  his  Saviour's  prefence  preffes  hard, 

And  that  preferring  outward  things  omits  ; 
For  thus  within  he  ferioufly  refieds, 

"  My  Lord  alone  I  count  my  only  good  ; 
All  empty  forms  for  him  my  foul  rejects, 

And  only  feck  the  riches  of  his  blood. 
All  days,  in  jefus,  is  my  foul  delight, 

The  rinl  and  worthier!  object  of  my  care  ; 
For  whcfe  dear  fake  all  outward  lhews  I  flight, 

Left  aught  but  him  mould  my  devotion  mare/* 
Let  not  the  obferver  therefore  entertain, 

Againft  his  brother  any  fecret  grudge  ; 
And  let  the  n on -obferver  too  refrain 

From  cenfuring  others  whom  he  mould  not  judge. 
Thus  both  their  motives  bringing  to  the  teft, 

Our  condeicending  Lore  may  both  approve, 
While  each  purfues  the  way  he  deems  the  bed, 

For  none  can  walk  amifs  who  walk  in  love. 

..«>..  ..o..<3S><^5>^5^i5><5^><S5>..o..  ••<>" 

I  F  at  any  time  you  are  preffed  to  do  any  thing  haftily,  be 
careful  :  Fraud  and  deceit  are  always  in  hafte  ;  but  diffidence 
is  the  right  eye  of  prudence. 

I T  is  of  little  confequence  to  read  eternal  truths,  if  we  pray 
not  to  obtain  the  gift  of  underitanding  them  aright. 

MEN  take  a  great  deal  more  pains  for  this  world,  than 
Heaven  would  ceil  them  ;  and  when  they  have  it,  do  not  live 
long  to  enjoy  it. 

THE  time  of  life  is  the  only  time  wherein  we  can  pre- 
pare for  another  world;  and  oh!  how  fhort  and  uncertain  is 
this  time  !  How  frail  and  uncertain  is  the  life  of  man  !  What 
multitudes  does  death  furprize  in  an  hour,  when  they  think 
nothing  of  it !    How  filently  and  infenfibly  does  time  flide 

away ; 


(     U9    ) 

pray  ;  with  what  a  winged  fwiftnefs  does  it  fly,  and  we  can- 
not ftay  its  progrefs,  flop  its  courfe,  or  retard  its  hafty  motion. 

I  N  the  morning  fay  to  thyfelf,  what  fhall  I  do  this  day, 
which  God  has  given  ;ne  ?  How  fhall  I  employ  it  to  his  glory  ? 
In  the  evening  confidei  within  thyfelf,  and  recoiled,  what  have 
I  done  this  day,  and  how  have  I  fpent  it  ? 

T  O  prevent  (peaking  evil  of  your  neighbour,  think  no  evil 
of  him  ;  and  if  you  hear  any,  live  in  hopes  that  it  is  a  miftake. 

I  F  you  defire  to  depend  upon  God,  let  it  appear  in  every 
inftance  of  his  Providence  towards  you :  Be  content  with  the 
want  of  thofe  outward  comforts  which  he  thinks  fit  to  deny 
you. 

'T I  S  commonly  obferved,  that  the  firft  flep  to  wickednefs, 
is  idlenefs ;  and  indeed  there  is  little  hopes  of  any  one  being  a 
good  man,  or  a  good  Clinician,  who  takes  no  care  of  his  time. 

OUR  wants  are  daily,  and  the  temptations  which  draw 
our  hearts  from  God,  to  the  things  of  this  world,  are  alfo  daily  ; 
and  upon  both  thefe  accounts,  ought  our  prayers  to  be  daily 
alfo. 

LET  it  never  enter  into  your  head,  that  you  are  a  man  of 
merit.  Be  the  only  perfon,  who  neither  knows  or  fpeaks  of 
your  own  worth. 


THE  well- taught  philofophic  mind, 

To  all  compaifion  gives  ; 
Carts  round  the  world  an  equal  eye, 

And  feels  for  each  that  lives. 

I  F  friendlefs,  in  a  vale  of  tears  I  ftray, 
Where  briers  wound,  and  thorns  perplex  my  way, 
Lord  let  my  fteady  foul  thy  gocdnefs  fee, 
And  with  itrong  confidence  lay  hold  on  thee  ; 

With 


(    '20   ; 

With  equal  eye  my  various  lot  receive, 
Refign'd  to  die,  or  refolute  to  live; 
Prepar'd  to  kifs  the  fceptre  or  the  rod, 
While  God  is  feen  in  all,  and  all  in  God. 

WE  muft  never  undervalue  any  perfon.  The  workman  loves 
not  that  his  work  fnould  be  defpifed  in  his  prefence.  Now 
God  is  prefent  every  where,  and  every  perfon  is  his  work. 

TO  live  contented,  in  a  moderate  eftate,  we  muft  never  con- 
fider  thofe  that  have  more,  but  thofe  that  have  lefs  than  our- 
felves. 


THE   BEECHEN   SHADE. 

T  O  this  lone  (hade,  where  peace  delights  to  dwell, 

Oft  let  my  unambitious  mufe  retire, 
Here  bid  the  vain  tumultous  world  farewell, 

And  praife  my  Maker  with  the  wood-land  choir. 
How  mall  I  joy  the  dew-bright  morn  to  view  ! 

With  pleafure  bluming  o'er  the  fair  domain  ; 
The  lowing  herds  and  bleating  flocks  purfue, 

Thick  ftraggling  o'er  the  verdant  flow'ry  plain. 
To  fee  fair  nature,  with  parental  love, 

Give  life  and  beauty  to  the  rural  fcene, 
While  tuneful  birds,  in  cv'iy  vocal  grove, 

In  fweet  affemblage  all  around  are  feen. 
To  walk,  by  turns,  the  grove,  the  plain,  the  glade  ; 

To  trace  the  riv'let  in  its  winding  way, 
At  eve's  approach,  to  hail  my  beechen  made, 

And  eye,  with  f.lent  joy,  the  dancing  fpray. 
While  thro'  my  veins  a  pleafing  rev'rence  thrills, 

How  ihould  I  joy  to  fee  the  parting  day,  ' 
Glide  from  the  plains,  the  forefts  and  the  hills, 

While  Philomel  begins  her  ev'ning  lay. 
Then  with  bold  wings  ftill  upwards  might  I  foar, 

And  range,  at  will,  the  planetary  field ; 

The 


(       121       ) 

The  hand  that  guides  the  glowing  worlds  adore, 

And  praife,  in  filent  admiration,  yield. 
Hail,  blifsful  filence  !  ftill  this  made  attend, 

Be  thou  my  conilant,  never- failing  gueft  ; 
Be  thou  my  guide,  my  counfellor,  my  friend, 

Unrivall'd  regent  of  my  glowing  breafh 
Let  not  the  vain  parade  of  wealth,  or  (hew, 

One  wifh  of  envy  in  my  breavt  excite  ; 
Ah  !  teach  my  heart  this  right'ous  truth  to  know, 

That  all  the  works  of  Providence  are  right. 


SERENITY  and  gladnefs  of  heart,  will  attend  a  de- 
vout mind,  when  it  maintains  an  intercourfe  with  the  great 
Author  of  its  Being.  When  we  are  in  company  with  our  God, 
with  our  Redeemer,  with  our  deareft  and  beft  of  friends,  our 
hearts  will  burn  with  love,  exult  with  gratitude,  fwell  with  hope, 
and  triumph  in  the  confeioufnefs  of  that  prefence,  which 
every  where  furrounds  us  ;  or  elfe  we  pour  cut  our  fears,  our 
troubles,  or  our  dangers,  to  the  great  Supporter  of  our  exigence. 

THE  happinefs  of  a  life  religioufly  fpent,  plainly  appears, 
from  the  poor  and  trifling  enjoyments,  that  all  thofe  are  forced 
to  take  up  with,  who  live  according  to  their  own  humour. 

RELIGION  is  a  fecure  refuge,  in  feafons  of  deepeft  diC 
trefs  ;  it  fmooths  the  chagrin  of  life,  makes  us  eaiy  in  all  cir- 
cumftances,  and  fills  our  fouls  with  the  greater!:  peace  that  our 
natures  are  capable  of.  The  contemplation  of  the  life  and  fuf- 
ferings  of  our  Divine  Leader,  mure  adrainifter  comfort  in  the  fe- 
vereft  affliction  ;  while  the  fenfe  of  his  power  and  omnipotence, 
gives  us  humiliation  in  profperky. 


ON  RETIREMENT. 

WHILE  here  fequefter'd  from  the  bu fy  throng. 
Let  calm  rerle&ion  animate  my  foog  ; 

L  May 


(       122       ) 

May  fweet  retirement,  with  its  foothing  pow'rs 
Compofe  each  thought,  and  gild  the  paiiing  hours  ; 
And  meek-ey'd  peace,  in  whitefl  robes  be  feen, 
To  cheer  the  heart  and  make  the  mind  ferene  ; 
Then  while  the  world  in  bufy  fcenes  engage, 
I'll  lhun  the  follies  of  a  vicious  age  ; 
Freed  from  the  dull  impertinence  of  ftrife, 
Serenely  pafs  in  folitude  my  life  : 
And  when  aurora  ulhers  in  the  dawn, 
And  tuneful  fongfters  hail  the  rifing  morn, 
With  grateful  heart  perform  the  ardent  pray'r, 
And  thank  kind  Heav'n  for  its  protecting  care. 
Then  while  the  fun  in  radient  fplendour  reigns, 
And  with  its  luftre  decks  the  hills  and  plains, 
Oft  let  me  wander  o'er  the  dewy  vale, 
And  breathe  fweet  fragrance  from  the  paffing  gale ; 
Or,  led  by  fancy,   frequent  let  me  rove, 
To  fome  thick  foreft  or  fome  fnady  grove, 
Where  peaceful  filenQC  reigns  throughout  the  fcene, 
And  painted  daifies  deck  the  lovely  green  ; 
While  gentle  zephyrs,  with  their  filken  wings, 
Difplay  their  beauties  o'er  the  chryftal  fprings, 
Or  on  the  margin  of  a  purling  ftream, 
(Indulge  my  mind  on  friendmip's  pleafing  theme) 
Whofe  gentle  murmurs  calm  the  troubled  breaft, 
And  foothe  each  forrow  when  the  mind's  diftrefs'd. 
Then  when  the  fun,  obedient  to  command, 
Shall  take  his  flight,  and  vifit  foreign  land  ; 
May  pale-ey'd  Cynthia,  emprefs  of  the  night, 
.Vith  mildeft  luftre,  (bed  her  folemn  light; 
While  twinkling  ftars  difpenfe  a  friendly  ray, 
And  gently  guide  the  trav'ler  on  his  way  : 
At  this  lone  hour  when  folemn  filence  reigns, 
And  mournful  Philomel  renews  her  drains, 
May  no  fad  thought  my  peaceful  mind  moleft, 
Each  murmur  reified,  and  each  figh  fupprefs'd, 
Save  when  companion  at  another's  woe 
Shall  caafe  the  tears  of  tendernefs  to  flow  ; 
Freelv  I'll  bear  a  fympathetic  part, 
And  Ihare  the  forrows  of  the  drooping  heart ; 

With 


(     t*|     ) 

With  fervent  pray'rs  implore  kind  Heav'n  to  blefs, 
And  fondly  ft  rive  to  make  their  for  rows  lefs. 

Thus  may  my  time  in  rural  {hades  be  fpent, 
Far  from  the  world,  enrich 'd  with  calm  content, 
'Till  death's  cold  hand  (hall  clofe  thefe  languid  eyes, 
And  hope  conducl  me  to  yon  blifsful  Ikies. 

O  GLORIOUS   day  !  O  day  of  peace,  arise, 
And  with  thy  fpleiklours  glad  my  longing  eyes. 
O  time  !  which  oft  fo  quickly  glid'il  away, 
Methinks  thou  ling'reft  and  defer 'ft  the  day  ; 
Juft  like  an  arrow  from  a  bow  half  ftrung, 
Thy  flagging  pinions  flowly  ikim  along. 
Oh !  with  new  vigour,  urge  thy  flying  courfe, 
And  flretch  each  tendon  with  redoubled  force  ; 
That  peace  ma}'  flow  like  ocean's  fwelling  tide, 
(s  And  feas  but  join  the  regions  they  divide." 


I  T  is  the  peculiar  excellence  of  a  good  name,  that  it  is  out 
of  the  reach  of  death,  and  is  not  buried  in  the  grave,  but  rather 
grows  up  from  it.  Solomon  hath  joined  this  good  name,  which 
pr  better  than  precious  ointment,  with  the  day  of  one's  death, 
which  is  better  than  the  clay  of  one's  birth,  as  it  completes  the 
character  of  thofe  that  finifh  their  courfe  well,  and  are  faithful 
unto  death  ;  whereas  a  great  name,  like  the  names  of  the  great 
ones  of  the  earth,  is  often  withered  and  blemifhed  by  death. 


WHAT  is  the  blooming  tincture  of  a  fkin, 
To  peace  of  mind,  to  harmony  within  ? 
What  the  bright  fparkling  of  the  fined  eye, 
To  the  foft  foothing  of  a  calm  reply  ? 
Can  comelinefs  of  form,  or  fhape,  or  air, 
With  comelinefs  of  words  or  deeds  compare  ? 
No — thofe  at  fird  th'  unwary  heart  may  gain, 
But  thefe,  thefe  only,  can  that  heart  retain. 

RELIGION 


.  (     i>4    J 

RELIGION  naturally  tends  to  all  that  is  great,  worthy, 
friendly,  generous  and  noble  ;  and  the  true  fpirit  of  it,  not  on'iy 
coflqpofes,  but  cheers  the  foul.  Though  it  banifhes  all  levity 
of  behaviour,  all  vicious  and  dilTolute  mirth — yet  in  exchange, 
I  with  a  perpetual  ferenity,  and  uninterrupted 
pleafure.^  The  contemplation  of  divine  mercy  and  power,  and 
the  exercife  of  virtue,  arc  in  their  own  nature  fo  far  from  exclud- 
ing all  gladnefs  of  heart,  that  they  are  the  principal  and  con- 
ilant  fources  of  it. 


TE  A  C  H  me,  what  all  believe,  but  few  pofTefs, 

1  ha:  fcic  nee  is  curfclves  to  know  ; 

The  gs  is  to  blefs, 

An  -'s  woe  : 

Thus  -eat, 

:  aHy  pafs, 

Each 

And  v  ath  my  pe< 

If  e'er  (i  y  name, 

fhall  never  bhifh  to  :>;eat:-e  a  iigh, 
And  great  ones  envy  fuch  an  me- 


H  E  that  can  fay  to  himfelf,  I  do  as  rnu  and  am  as  I 

ivours  will  allow  me,    what-  \ 
ever  is  bis  Ration  in  the  world,  is  as  to  himfelf  poflefled 

:-ii  honour.     If  a  is  not  thus  turned,  it  is   no  other 

than  a  continual  fuceerLon  of  anxiety  and  vexation.     But  when 
it  has  this  call,   it  invigorates  the  mind  ;  and  the  con" 
of  its  own  worth  is  a  rewar  I  it  is  not  in  the  power  of 

envy,   detraction,  or  reproach,  to  take  from  it.     Thus  the  feat 
offolid  honour  is  in  a  man's  own  bofom  ;  and  no  one  can  want 

3rt,  who  is  in  pofTeiiion  of  an  honed  confeience,  but  he 
who  would  fuffer  the  reproaches  of  it  for  other  greatnefs. 

ERE  are  fome  men,  in  whom  a  deficiency  of  fenfe  or 
wit  gives  no  pain  ;  there  are  fome,  in  whom  abundance  of  both 
gives  no  pleafure.  The 


(       12?      ) 

The  following  lines  are  taken  from  a  defcription  of  Hawkftbne, 
an  elegant  feat  in  Shropfhire.  The  author  of  that  defcrip- 
tion  tells  us,  they  were  compofed  by  the  owner  of  the  above- 
mentioned  feat,  when  he  was  contemplating  the  aftonifhing 
fcenes  around  him  in  his  own  park,  where  the  verfes  arc  to 
be  feen  in  a  natural  cavern  of  a  vail  rock,  from  the  top  of 
which  you  command  a  very  diveriiiied  and  romantic  profpect. 

WHILST  all  thy  glories,  O  my  God  ! 

Thro*  the  creation  fhine, 
Whilft  rocks  and  hills,  and  fertile  vales, 

Proclaim  the  hand  divine — 
O !  may  I  view,  with  humble  heart, 

The  wonders  of  thy  pow'r, 
Difplay'd  alike  in  wilder  fcenes, 

As  in  each  blade  and  fiow'r. 
But  whilft  I  tafte  thy  bleffings,  Lord ! 

And  fip  the  ftreams  below, 
O  mav  my  foul  be  led  to  thee, 

From  whom  all  bleffings  flow. 
And,  if  fuch  footfteps  of  thy  love, 

Thro'  this  loft  world  we  trace, 
How  far  tranfcendant  are  thy  works 

Throughout  the  world  of  grace  ! 
J  lift  as  before  yon  noon- tide  fun, 

The  brighten:  ftars  are  fmall ; 
So  earthly  comforts  are  but  fnares, 

'Till  grace  has  crown'd  them  all. 

Epitaph  on  a  Country  Clergyman. 

STILL,  like  his  Saviour,  known  by  breaking  bread, 
The  rich  he  entertain'd,  the  needy  fed — 
Of  humour  eafy,  and  of  life  unblam'd, 
The  friend  delighted,  while  the  prieft  reelaim'd  : 
The  friend,  the  father,  and  thebufband  gone, 
The  prieft  ftill  lives  in  th'  recording  ftcne, 
Where  pious  eyes  may  read  his  praifes  o'er, 
And  learn  each  grace  his  pulpit  taught  before, 

L  z  THE 


(     "6    ) 

THE  bent  and  inclination  of  a  virtuous  man  is  towards 
filence,  as  much  as  poiiible,  becaufe  the  principal  light  and 
knowledge  of  this  life,  confifts  in  being  thoroughly  acquaint- 
ed with  the  depth  and  greatne£>  of  his  own  ignorance.  So 
that  thole  who  make  great  progress  in  human  fciences,  for  the 
moil  part  become  peremptory  and  decifive  :  Cn  the  contrary, 
the  proficients  in  the  fcience  of  God  become  more  refer  ved, 
more  inclind  to  filence,  lefs  addicled  to  their  own  fenfe,  and 
lefs  venturefome  to  judge  of  others,  becaufe  they  difcover  more 
and  more  how  uncertain  and  obfcure  our  knowledge  is ;  how 
much  we  often  deceive  ourfelves  in  the  things  we  think  wc 
know  bell  ;  how  many  faults  and  errors  we  run  into  by  haile 
and  precipitation  in  judging  ;  and  what  diforders  are  often 
eaufed  by  rafn  judgments  and  advices. 


Infcription  for  an  Hermitage. 

FOND  man.  retire  to  this  lone  celU 
And  bid  the  bufy  world  farewell  • 
Ah  !  quit  the  city's  noify  icene, 
For  pleafurcs  tranquil  and  ferene  ; 
Seek  in  this  calm,  this  fweet  recefs, 
The  rofe-lip'd  cherub- — haupinefs ; 
That  haunts  the  hermit's  moffy  floor, 
And  firaple  peafant's  rural  door. 
How  pleafant  is  yon  oak's  brown  made— 
The  fpreading  beach,  th'  adjacent  glade  ; 
The  chryilal  itreams,  that  fmcothly  glide  ; 
The  warbling  thrufh.  at  even  tide. 
Fond  man,  here  fweetly  thou  may 'ft  fpend 
Thy  fleeting  days,  nor  fear  thy  end  j 
Stealing  thro'  life,  as  thro'  the  plain, 
Yon  rill  flows  iilent  to  the  main. 
Flere  (when  in  ruflet  veil  the  morn 
Walks  o'er  the  mountain  or  the  lawn) 
Thy  early  orifons  begin, 
And  live  fecare  from  woe  and  fin  ; 
Here  tco,  at  ev'nings  fober  hour, 

Adore 


(     1*7     ) 

Adore  the  great  Almighty  pow'r  ; 
The  Sovereign  Ruler  of  the  Ikies, 
Forever  juft,  and  good,  and  wife. 

PATIENCE  will  wipe  away  the  dreaming  tear, 
And  hope  will  paint  the  pallid  cheek  of  fear  : 
Content  will  always  happinefs  fupply, 
And  virtue  calls  a  blefling  from  on  high. 


WHEN  any  body's  mifbehaviour  difturbs  you,  difmifs 
the  image  of  the  injury,  and  bethink  yourfelf  whether  you  have 
not  been  guilty  of  the  fame  fault.  Such  reflection  is  the  fhort~ 
eft  and  moft  certain  way  of  becoming  truly  wife  and  truly  pi- 
ous. 

N  O  trees  bear  fruit  in  autumn,  unlefs  they  bloflbm  in  the 
fpring.  To  the  end  that  our  age  may  be  profitable,  and  laden 
with  ripe  fruit,  let  all  endeavour,  that  our  youth  may  be  ftudi- 
ous,  and  flowered  with  the  blolfoms  of  learning  and  obferva- 
tion. 

W  E  may  judge  of  men  by  their  converfation  towards  God^ 
but  never  by  Gods  difpenfation  towards  them. 

T  O  learn  to  accommodate  our  tafte  to  that  portion  of  hap- 
pinefs, which  Providence  has  fet  before  us,  is  of  all  the  leffons 
of  philofophy,  furely  the  moft  necefiary.  High  and  exquiiite 
gratifications  are  not  confident  with  the  appointed  meafures  of 
humanity  ;  and  perhaps  if  we  would  fully  enjoy  the  relifh  of 
our  being,  we  mould  rather  confider  the  miferies  we  efcape, 
than  too  nicely  examine  the  intrinfic  worth  of  the  happinefs  we 
poflefs. 

W  H  E  N  a  man  is  in  company  with  his  betters,  it  is  as 
much  more  advifable  to  hear,  than  to  fpeak,  as  it  is  better  to 
reap,  than  to  fow. 

H  E  is  the  richeft  man,  who  defires  nofuperfluity,and  wants 
for  no  neceffary,  RESTLESS 


(     123     ) 

RESTLESS  mortals  toil  for  nought, 
Blifs  in  vain  from  earth  is  fought ; 
Blifs,  a  native  of  the  fky, 
Never  wanders — mortals  try  ; 
There  you  cannot  feek  in  vain, 
For  to  feek  her  is  to  gain. 

COME  gentle  age  !  to  me  thou  doft  appear 
No  cruel  object  of  regret  or  fear  ; 
Thy  ftealing  ilep  I  unrelu&ant  fee, 
Nor  would  avoid,  or  wifh  to  fly  from  thee. 

OTHER'S  good  turns  to  thee  be  fure  to  tell, 
But  nothing. fay,  when  thou  thy felf  dolt  well. 


SOME  have  pleafed  theinfelves  with  the  thought,  Cf  That 
^departed  fpirits  fupply  the  place  of  guardian  angels  to  their 
friends  ;  that  they  delight  to  follow  them  in  their  folitary 
walks,  and  watch  their  nightly  {lumbers,  and  make  impreflions 
on  their  fleeping  fancy,  to  warn  them  of  approaching  dangers." 
'Tis  not  unlikely,  that  the  tempeits  of  human  paiTions  are  fome- 
timescompofedby  the  foft  infpiring  whifpers  of  thofe  propitious 
beings,  while  the  feats  of  joy  ha\e  opened  their  glories  in  vi- 
fionary  fcenes  to  their  fleeping  imagination. 

YOU  may  enjoy  what  you  have,  if  you  do  not  wifh  for 
more.  Like  a  clear  ftream,  which  glides  fmoothly  on,  but  by 
endeavouring  to  encreafe  the  waters,  it  becomes  a  torrent. 


O  F  greatnefs,  and  its  pompous  train, 
What  notions  falfe  we  entertain ! 
The  glitt'ring  drefs,  the  fplendid  feaft, 
Thofe  fee  king  moft,  who  know  them  lea 
Our  time,  anxiety,  and  coil, 
In  the  vain  acquisition's  loft. 
The  man  we  envy  oft  as  bleft, 
In  fecret  pines  with  care  opprefs'd.  MANY 


(     i29     ) 

MANY  fcripture  parables  and  fimilitudes  are  taken  from 
the  common  actions  of  this  life,  that  when  our  hands  are  em- 
ployed about  them,  our  hearts  may  the  more  eafily  pafs  thro' 
them  to  divine  and  heavenly  things. 

EVERY  thing  is  beautiful  in  its  feafon  ;  and  it  is  the 
wifdom  of  the  prudent,  fo  to  order  the  duties  of  their  general 
callings  as  Chriftians,  and  thofe  of  their  particular  callings  in 
the  world,  as  that  they  may  not  clafh  or  interfere. 

IT  is  related  of  the  pious  Philip  Henry,  that  if  any  aflted 
his  charity,  whofe  reprefentation  of  their  cafe  he  did  not  like, 
or  who  he  thought  did  amifs  to  take  that  courfe,  he  would  rirfl 
give  them  an  alms,  and  then  mildly  reprove  them  ;  labouring 
to  convince  them  that  they  were  out  of  the  way  of  duty ;  that 
they  could  not  exped  God  mould  blefs  them  in  it,  and  would 
not  chide,  but  reafon  with  them.  He  would  fay,  if  he  mould 
tell  them  of  their  faults,  and  not  give  them  an  alms,  the  reproof 
would  look  only  like  an  excufe  to  deny  his  charity,  and  would 
be  rejected  accordingly. 

T  O  be  over  felicitous  after  praife,  to  be  greedy  of  it,  and 
eager  in  purfuing  it,  and  to  feem  in  fome  meafure  to  beg  it,  in- 
ftead  of  being  the  character  of  a  great  foul,  is  the  moft  certain 
fign  of  a  vain  and  light  difpoiiticn,  which  feeds  upon  the  wind, 
and  takes  the  fnadow  for  the  fubftance. 


THE     ANTS. 

S  O  when  the  ants,  a  fmall  induftrious  train, 
Embodied  rob  fome  golden  heap  of  grain, 
Studious,  ere  ftormy  winter  frowns,  to  lay 
Safe  in  their  darkfome  cells  the  treafur'd  prey : 
In  one  long  track  the  duiky  legions  lead 
Their  prize  in  triumph,  thro'  the  verdant  mead  ; 
Here  bending  with  the  load,  a  panting  throng, 
With  force  conjoined,  heave  fome  huge  grain  along;  ' 
Some  lafh  the  ftragglers  to  the  talk  affign'd, 
Some  to  their  ranks  the  bands  that  lag  behind  3 


1  hey 


(     ijo     ) 

They  croud  the  peopled  path  in  thick  array, 
Glow  at  the  work,  and  darken  all  the  way. 

HOW  blefs'd  the  man,  who,  like  thefe  infe&s,  wife, 
Exerts  his  powers  to  lav  up  Heav'nly  food ; 

Convinced,  that  nought  like  this  beneath  the  fkies 
Deferves  his  care,  and  ought  to  be  purfu'd. 

W OULD  you  in  fafety  plough  th'  inconitant  tide, 
The  helm  let  prudence  ever  watchful  guide. 
She  fhuns  the  deep,  where  mountain-billows  roar, 
And  fhuns  alike  the  mallows  and  the  fhore. 

The  few,  by  precept  or  experience  wife, 
Who  know  the  mean,  the  golden  mean,  to  prize, 
With  equal  fcom  reject  a  fordid  irate, 
And  the  gilt  forrows  of  the  vainly  great. 
Kx'd  in  that  point,  where  all  the  virtues  reft, 
Between  th'  extremes  with  peaceful  pleafure  bleft, 
They  know  to  curb  irregular  cefires, 
When  av'rice  tempts  them,  or  ambition  fires. 


POSTS  of  preferment,  and  the  marks  of  refpecl:  annexed 
to  them,  may  flatter  the  ambition  and  vanity  of  mankind,  but 
in  themfelves  include  no  real  glory  or  folid  greatnefs,  as  they 
are  foreign  to  them — as  they  are  not  always  the  proof  and  re- 
ward of  merit — as  thev  add  nothing  to  the  good  qualities  either 
of  body  or  mind — as  they  correct  none  of  our  faults,  but  often, 
on  the  contrary,  ferve  only  to  multiply  and  make  them  more 
remarkable,  by  making  them  confpicuous,  and  exhibiting  them 
in  a  ftronger  light. 

I  T  is  virtue  alone  which  fixes  the  price  of  every  thing,  and 
is  the  fole  fource  of  folid  glory  and  real  greatnefs. 

WIT  is  commonly  looked  upon  with  a  fufpicious  eye,  as 
a  two-edged  fword,  from  which  not  even  the  facrednefs  of 
iriendlhip  can  fecure.     It  is  more  efpecially  dreaded  in  women. 

A 


(     '31     ) 

A  MAN  may  be  referred  and  modeft  in  the  midft  of  riches 
and  honours,  as  he  may  be  proud  and  avaricious  in  the  obfcu- 
rity  of  a  poor  and  wretched  life. 

T  I  M  E,  always  precious,  can  never  be  more  fio,  than  in 
our  early  years  ;  the  rirfb  ideas  make  the  ftrongefl  and  moll  hill- 
ing impreifion. 

NUMBERLESS  are  the  branches  of  good  nature  ! — 
Numberlefs  a~e  the  benefits  we  ourfelves  receive  by  it,  and  con- 
fer on  others ! 

M  ERE  good  humour,  if  abufed,  will  degenerate  into  its 
reverfe  ;  but  good  nature  is  always  the  fame,  and  incapable  of 
changing;  like  the  divine  fource,  of  which  it  is  an  emanation, 
it  returns  injuries  with  benefits  ;  it  endeavours  to  work  on  the 
bad  heart  that  offers  them,  by  foft  perfuaiion,  and  pities  what 
it  cannot  mend. 


WHAT  tho'  to-day  opprefs'd  with  various  woes  ? 
To-morrow's  dawn  may  happier  fcenes  difclofe. 
The  bounteous  pow'r  that  o'"er  wide  nature  reigns, 
Now  bids  flern  winter  blafl  the  freezing  plains ; 
And  now  recalls  the  fpring,  the  fpring  returns, 
Each  face  now  fmiies,  and  ev'ry  bofom  burns ; 
New  beauty  burfls  upon  the  ravifh'd  iight, 
And  all  around  is  joy,  and  life,  and  light. 

THRO'  life  let  manly  fortitude  prevail, 
Whatever  the  current  and  whate'er  the  gale; 
Prefs  forward  flill,  and  ev'ry  adverfe  tide 
Let  thy  flow,  perfevering  bark,  divide. 
But  when  too  ftrong  the  fav'ring  breeze  you  find, 
Furl  the  broad  fail,  nor  trufl  the  faithlefs  wind. 

To  Mira,  with  a  Watch. 


M  I  R  A,  this  machine,  you'll  find, 
Suits  a  moralizing  mind* 


lias 


(     <3i»     ) 

Has  it  motion  ?  'Tis  as  dear 

Aclion  is  man's  proper  fphere. 

Equal  mould  its  progrefs  prove, 

So  thro'  life  let  Mira  move. 

V*  hen  you  forward  urge  its  pace, 

Think  it  may  be  Mira's  cafe  ; 

In  my  paiTage  to  the  iky, 

Have  I  linger'd  ? — let  me  fly  ! 

Backwards  are  the  hands  convey  *d, 

To  the  points  from  whence  they  ftray'd  ? 

Blufh  not,  Mira !  to  untread 

Steps  that  wifdom  never  led. 

Jf  it  ftand,  reflecting  fay, 

Time  for  no  machine  will  flay : 

Heav'n  obferves,  and,  will  it  find 

Mira  with  him,  or  behind  ? 

Mark  its  hands  with  thanks  to  Heav'n, 

For  each  hour  and  minute  giv'n  ; 

Giv'n  as  means  to  make  us  wife  ; 

Giv'n  to  form  us  for  the  flues. 

Falfe  if  either  hand  be  view'd, 

Some  internal  fault  conclude, 

Thus  if  Mira's  life  mould  fin, 

Let  her  firft  reform  within. 

When  it  itrikes  the  hour,  admit 

Silence  is  not  always  ft. 

Ev'ry  day  its  talk  purfu'd, 

Hints  how  thine  muft  be  renew 'd. 

Say,  when  winding  up,  alas  ! 

Human  wheels,  like  thpie  of 

Soon  their  functions  would  forego, 

Nought  if  foreign  hand  beftow. 

If  all  day  it  acled  right, 

When  fhe  hangs  it  by  at  night, 

Then  let  Mira  aik  her  heart, 

How  have  I  performed  my  part  ? 

If  it  err'd,  let  Mira  pray, 

Heav'n  forgive  my  faults  to-day  ! 

For  its  ufe,  my  pre  lent  prize. 

All  befides  neglecl — defpife. 


Shine 


{     153     ) 

Shine  its  trinkets  as  they  will, 
Trinkets  are  but  trifles  frill. 
Mira  !  when  at  court  array 'd 
All  in  jewels,  and  brocade, 
If  at   heart  no  merit  dwell, 
If  no  deeds  that  merit  tell, 
Tho'  a  lord  mould   fmile,  or  king, 
Thou'rt  a  glit'ring,  ufelefs  thing. 
If  whate'er  its  prefent  praife, 
All  its  pow'r  to  ferve  decays, 
Means  to  mend  it  vainly  try'd, 
When  you  cad  it  from  your  fide  ; 
On  a  life  of  virtue  pail, 
Joyful  retrofpe&ion  caft  ; 
But  let  Mira  think  again, 
Only  virtue  pail  were  vain  ; 
Perfeverance,  'till  we  die, 
Wins  the  Chriitian's  crown  on  high. 


A  W  O  M  A  N  of  true  fenfe,  will  be  always  ambitious-— 
not  of  gaining  admiration,  but  of  deferving  it. 

THERE  is  no  being  long,  and  fincerely  happy,  without 
being  good  ;  which,  as  common  an  obfervation  as  it  has  been, 
yet  wants  to  be  made  anew,  by  moft,  even  of  thofe,  whom 
the  world  thinks  both  wife  and  happy. 

GOOD  humour  fhuns  not  an  opportunity  of  obliging  ;  but 
good  nature  is  induftrious,  in  feeking  out  as  many  as  it  can* 
Good  humour  frequentlv  promifes  more  than  is  in  its  power  to 
•perform  ;  but  good  nature  does  more  than  it  gives  yon  reafon 
!to  expect. 

THE  want  of  thought  creates  many  mifchiefs  among  man- 
kind ;  and  this  is  the  reafon  that  none  ought  to  fpeak,  'till 
they  have  firft  reflected  on  every  thing  that  may  pofhbly  be  the 
confequence  of  what  they  fpeak. 

m  it- 


(     134    ) 

i  T  is  indeed  a  dreadful  thing,  when  people  cannot  refolve 
to  content  themfslves  with  the  fphere  in  which  they  are  placed 
by  Heaven.  It  is  this  reftlefhefs  of  the  mind,  that  occafions 
half  the  mifchiefs  that  befal  mankind  ;  and  yet  we  are  all, 
more  or  lefs,  apt  to  have  fome  mare  of  it.  Every  one  wifhes 
for  fomething  he  has  not,  and  that  hinders  him  from  enjoy- 
ing, properly,  what  he  is  pollened  of.  We  fancy  we  know 
better  than  him  that  made  us,  what  would  befit  us,  and  accufe 
Providence  of  partiality,  in  the  lot  afligned  to  us. 

LIFE  is  an  uncertain  ocean;  numberlefs,  namelefs  dan- 
gers, lurk  b€0£ath  the  faireft  furface.  No  one,  at  his  firfc  em- 
barkation, can  promife  to  himfelf  that  he  ihall  go  through  his 
voyage,  unruffled  with  the  ftorms  which  from  above,  below, 
and  every  where,  furround.  Who  then  would  not  be  glad  to 
fecure  fome  friendly  bark  at  hand,  whofe  kind  ailiftanee,  in 
cafe  of  a  wreck,  might  fave  him. 

THE  feeds  of  thofe  fpiritual  joys  and  raptures,  which  are 
to  rife  up  and  flourifh  in  the  foul  to  all  eternity,  mull  be  plant- 
ed in  her,  during  her  prefcnt  ftate  of  probation. 


BEWARE  thy  meddling  hand  in  ought  to  try, 
That  does  beyond  thy  reach  of  knowledge  lie, 
But  feek  to  know,  and  bend  thy  ferious  thought, 
To  fearch  the  profitable  knowledge  out ; 
So  joys,  on  joys,  forever  will  encreafe, 
Wifdom  mail  crown  thy  labours,  and  ihall  blefs 
Thy  life  with  pleafure,  and  thy  end  with  peace. 

LET  gratitude,  in  acls  of  goodnefs  flow, 
My  love  to  God,  in  love  to  man  below ; 
Be  this  my  joy,  to  calm  the  troubled  breaft, 
Support  the  weak,  and  fuccour  the  diilreft  ; 
Direct  the  wand'rer,  dry  the  widow's  tear, 
The  orphan  guard,  the  finking  fpirits  chear. 
Tho'  fmall  my  pow'r  to  adt,  tho'  mean  my  (kill, 
God  fees  the  heart,  he  judges  by  the  will. 

AN 


(     '35     ) 
AN    EVENING    THOUGHT. 

NOW  down  the  fteep  of  Heav'n  the  fource  of  day 
Purfues,  unwearied,  his  diurnal  way  ; 
Mild  fhine  his  rays,  his  beams  ferene  defeend, 
And  o'er  the  earth  a  fweet  effulgence  fend. 
The  blufVring  winds  a  pleafing  filence  keep, 
And  in  their  caves,  with  folded  pinions,  fleep. 
No  longer  from  the  cloud  defcends  the  rain, 
But  a  clear  azure  fpreads  th'  etherial  plain  ; 
A  folemn,  pleafing  filence,  hovers  round, 
And  peace,  with  downy  wing,  o'erfpreads  the  ground. 
While  filver  Cynthia  fheds  her  milder  light, 
And  ufhers  in  the  awful  reign  of  night. 

So  when  the  lamp  of  life  fhall  dimly  burn, 
And  this  frail  frame  to  kindred  dull  return, 
May  the  rude  ilrife  of  earth-born  paffions  ceafe, 
And  life's  fnort  journey  terminate  in  peace. 
May  then  no  cares  terreftrial  break  my  reft, 
Or  keen  reflections  difcompofe  my  bread. 
May  then  no  fears,  no  dread  of  ills  to  come, 
Make  me  fhrink  back  with  terror  from  the  tomb ; 
But  when  the  awful  mandate  from  on  high 
The  fentence  inall  proclaim,  that  bids  me  die, 
Refign'd  and  peaceful,  let  me  bow  my  head, 
And  Heav'n  enjoy,  when  number 'd  with  the  dead. 


T  O  be  too  inquifitive,  into  things  in  which  we  have  no  con- 
cern^ and  which,  with  the  utmoft  labour,  affiited  by  thegreateft 
learning,  and  ftrongeft  capacity,  we  can  never  be  able  to  pene- 
trate, is  doubtlefs  both  a  fin  and  a  folly. 

A  M IN  D,  eager  to  enquire  into  the  minuteft  works  of 
nature,  will  be  infenfibly  led  to  a  contemplation  on  the  greateft  ; 
and  in  all,  we  fhall  find  fufficient  for  our  aftonifnment,  and 
the  exciting  in  us  fuch  ideas  of  the  great  Author  of  Nature,  as 
cannot  fail  to  fill  us  with  the  higheft  fenfe  of  the  infinity  of 
his  goodnefs  to  all  his  creatures  j  and  to  us  in  particular,  to 

whom 


(     i3«    ) 

whom  alone,  of  all  fublunary  beings,  he  has  given    the  power 
of  reafon  and  reflection. 

THERE  is  nothing  requires  a  greater  delicacy  of  fenti- 
ment  and  expreilion,  than  what  we  call  raillery  ;  and  a  perfon 
inuft  be  very  polite  indeed,  who  knows  how  to  praclife  it,  fo 
as  not  to  give  oifence. 

T  O  be  merry  ourfelves,  or  make  fport  for  others,  on  the 
errors  or  miftakes  of  our  friend  or  companion,  is  certainly  very 
unkind  ;  but  if  our  jeft  is  on  the  defects  or  infirmities  of  his 
perfon,  it  is  really  cruel. 


The  dying  Chriftian  to  his  SouL 


VITAL  fpark  of  Heavnly  flame  ! 
Quit,  oh  quit !  this  mortal  frame — 
Trembling,  hoping,  ling'ring,  flying, 
Oh  !  the  pain,  the  blifs  of  dying  ! 
Ceafe,  fond  nature,  ceafe  thy  ftrife, 
And  let  me  languifh  into  life. 

II. 
Hark  they  whifper,  angels  fay, 
Sifter  fpirit  come  away  ! 
What  is  this  abforbs  me  quite, 
Steals  my  fenfes,  fhuts  my  fight ; 
Drowns  my  fpirits,  draws  my  breath. 
Tell  me,  my  foul,  can  this  be  death  r" 

III. 
The  world  recedes,  it  difappears ! 
Heav'n  opens  on  my  eyes — my  ears 

With  founds  feraphic  ring  : 
Lend,  lend  your  wings  !  I  mount  !  I  fly! 
Ch  !  grave,  where  is  thy  victory  ? 

Oh  !  death  where  is  thy  fling  ? 


THO' 


(     '37     ) 

T  HO'  plung'd  in  ills,  and  exercis'd  in  care, 
Yet  never  let  the  noble  mind  defpair  : 
For  blefiings  always  wait  on  virtuous  deeds, 
And  tho'  a  late,  a  lure  reward  fucceeds. 


THE  brighteft  hours  of  profperity,  have  their  clouds  ;  and 
the  ftream  of  life,  if  it  is  not  raffled  by  obftrudtions,  will  grow 
putrid  by  flagnation. 

WHATEVER  bufies  the  mind,  without  corrupting  it, 
has  at  leaft  this  ufe,  that  it  refcues  the  day  from  idlenefs ;  and 
he  that  is  never  idle,  will  not  often  be  vicious. 

KNOWLEDGE  is  praifed  and  delired  by  multitudes, 
whom  her  charms  could  never  roufe  from  the  couch  of  fioth. 

SINCE  life  itfelf  is  uncertain,  nothing  which  has  life  for 
its  balis,  can  boaft  much  liability. 

O  F  him  that  hopes  to  be  forgiven,  it  is  indifpenfably  re- 
quired, that  he  forgive. 

F  E  W  are  placed  in  a  liquation  fo  gloomy  and  diftrefsful,  as 
not  to  fee  every  day  beings  yet  more  forlorn  and  miferabie, 
from  whom  they  may  learn  to  rejoice  in  their  own  lot. 

A  CONSTANT  habit  of  unprofitable  amufement,  re- 
laxes the  tone  of  the  mind,  and  renders  it  totally  incapable  of 
application,  ftudy,  or  virtue. 

T  O  infult  over  the  miferies  of  an  unhappy  creature,  is  in- 
human ;  not  to  companionate  them,  is  unchriitian. 

THE  wickednefs  of  a  woman  changeth  her  face,  and  dark- 
ened* her  countenance  like  fack-cloth. 

As  the  climbing  of  a  fandy  way  is  to  the  feet  of  the  aged, 
fo  is  a  wife  full  of  words  to  a  quiet  man. 

A  woman  that  will  not  comfort  her  hufband  in  dHlrefs,  mak- 
eth  weak  hands  and  feeble  knees.     Eccles.  xxv,  chap. 

M  2  Extraft 


(    ij«    ) 

Extract  from  Young's  Refignatioru 

W  H  A  T  cannot  refignation  do  ? 

It  wonders  can  perform  ; 
That  pow'rful  charm,  *(  thy  will  be  done,0 

Can  lay  the  loudeft  ftorm. 
Our  hearts  are  faften'd  to  this  world, 

By  flrong  and  tender  ties ; 
And  tv  iy  forrow  cuts  a  firing, 

And  urges  us  to  rife. 
When  Heav'n  would  kindly  fet  us  free, 

And  earth's  enchant meats  end, 
It  takes  the  moil  effectual  means, 

And  robs  us  of  a  friend. 
Oh !  how  diforder'd  our  machine, 

When  contradictions  mix ; 
When  nature  flrikes  no  lefs  than  twelve, 

And  folly  points  at  fix. 
They  let  unmark'd,  and  unemploy'd, 

Life's  idle  moments  run, 
And,  doing  nothing  for  themfelves, 

Imagine  nothing  done. 
Dang'rous  miilake — their  fate  goes  on, 

Their  dread  account  proceeds — 
And  their  not  doing,  is  fet  down, 

Amongil  their  darker!  deeds. 

IT  was  the  practice  of  Yefpafian,-the  Roman  emperor,  to 
call  himfelf  to  an  account  every  night,  for  the  actions  of  the 
pad  day  ;.  and  as  often  as  he  let  flip  one  day  without  doing 
fome  good,  he  entered  upon  his  diary  this  memorial — 
«  I  have  loft  a  day." 

THE  grace  of  a  wife  delighteth  her  hufband,  and  her  dis- 
cretion will  fatten  his  bones. 

A  fiknt  and  loving  woman  is  a  gift  of  the  Lord,  and  there 
is  nothing  (o  much  worth,  as  a  mind  well  initrucled. 

As  the  fun  when  it  arifeth  in  the  high  heaven — fo  is  the  beau- 
ty of  a  good  wife  in  the  ordering  cf  her  houfe.    Eccl.  xxvi 

TO 


(     139     ) 

T  O  hint  at  a  fault,  does  more  mifchief,  than  fpeaking  out ; 
for  whatever  is  left  for  the  imagination  to  finifh,  will  not  fail 
to  be  overdone. 

MEEKNESS  is  imperfect,  if  it  be  not  both  active  and 
paflive  ;  if  it  will  not  enable  us  to  fubdue  our  own  paffions  and 
refentments,  as  well  as  qualify  us  to  bear,  patiently,  the  palfi- 
ons  and  refentments  of  others. 

ALEXANDER  (fays  Seneca)  had  two  friends,  Clitus 
and  Lyfimachus  ;  the  one  he  expofed  to  a  lion,  the  other  to 
himfelf ;  he  who  was  turned  loofe  to  the  beaft,  efcaped,  but 
Clitus  was  murdered,  for  he  was  turned  loofe  to  an  angry  man. 


COUNT  that  day  loft,  whofe  low  defcending  fun 
Views  from  thy  hand  no  worthy  action  done. 

LOVE  the  great  God,  with  all  thy  might, 
And  know,  whatever  is,  is  right. 
To  his  difpofal  always  yield, 
Who  clothes  the  liliies  of  the  field, 
And  truft  his  ever- watchful  care, 
Which  numbers  every  fingle  hair. 
Each  day  the  facred  pages  view, 
For  thefe  give  pleafures  ever  new. 
The  truths  that  there  confpicuous  fhine, 
Proclaim  their  author  all  divine — 
See  here  thy  great  Redeemer's  love, 
Who  left  the  radiant  realms  above — 
To  perfect  all  the  gofpel  plan, 
Then  dy'd,  to  fave  degen'rate  man. 
To  him  prefer  thy  ardent  pray'r, 
For  fuch  things  as  expedient  are  ; 
And  if  thy  breaft  a  manfion  be, 

Fit  to  receive  the  Heav'nly  three,  ♦ 

The  comforter  fhall  foon  be  fent, 
To  fill  the  mind  with  fweet  content ; 
And  tho'  the  world,  as  all  confefs, 
Can  neither  fatisfy  or  blefs, 
Hence  may 'ft  thou  draw  that  liquid  (tore, 
JVhich  he  that  drinks  of,  thixlts  no  more,  WITH 


f     HO     ) 

W I  T  H  Heaven's  ennobling  gifts 

Benignly  bleft,  the  blooming  Lucia  fhines : 
Pleaiing  her  fpeech,  by  nature  taught  to  flow, 
Strong  and  perfualive  fenfe,  fincere  and  clear. 
Her  manners  greatly  p^lain ;  a  noble  grace 
Self-taught,  beyond  the  reach  of  mimic  art, 
Adorns  her  :  Her  calm  temper,  winning,  mild, 
Nor  pity  fofter ;  truth  itfelf  the  fource  : 
Ccnftantin  doing  well,  fhe  neither  feeks, 
Nor  ihuns  applaufe.     No  bafhful  merit  fighs 
Near  her  neglected  :  Sympathizing,  fhe 
Wipes  oiFthe  tear  from  forrow's  clouded  eye 
With  kindly  hand,  and  bids  her  heart  to  finile. 


MEEKNESS  may  be  called  the  pioneer  of  all  the  other 
virtues,  which  levels  ever.  w,   and  fmooths  every  dif- 

ficulty, that  might  impede  their  entrance,  or  retard  their  pro- 

grefs. 

I  F  it  were  only  for  mere  human  reafons,  it  would  turn  to 
a  better  account,  to  be  patient  ;  nothing  defeats  the  malice 
of  an  enemy,  like  a  fpirit  of  forbearance  ;  the  return  of  rage 
for  rage  cannot  be  fo  effectually  provoking.  True  gentleneis, 
like  an  impenetrable  armour,  repels  the  molt  pointed  (hafts  of 
malice  ;  they  cannot  pierce  thro'  this  invulnerable  ihield,  but 
either  fall  hurtlefs  to  the  ground,  or  return  to  wound  the  hand 
that  fhot  them 

A  MEEK  fpirit  will  not  look  out  of  itfelf  for  happinefs, 
becaufe  it  finds  a  coniiant  banquet  at  home ;  yet  by  a  fort  of  Di- 
vine Alchymy,  it  will  convert  all  external  events  to  its  own 
profit,  and  be  able  to  deduce  fome  good,  even  from  the  moft 
unpromifing  ;  it  wiH  extract  comfort  and  fatisfadtion  from  the 
molt  barren  circumftances ;  "  it  will  fuck  honey  out  of  the 
rock,  and  oil  out  of  the  flinty  rock." 

HONOURS  and  dignities  are  tranfient,  beauty  and 
riches  frail  and  fleeting,  to  a  proverb.     Would  not  the  truly 

wife, 


(     H>     ) 

wife,  therefore,  wifh  to  have  fome  one  pofTeffion,  which  they 
might  call  their  own  in  the  fevered  exigencies  ?  But  this  with 
can  only  be  accomplished,  by  acquiring,  and  maintaining, 
that  calm  and  abfolute  felf-poffeffion,  which  as  the  world  had 
no  hand  in  giving,  fo  it  cannot,  by  the  moil  malicious  exerti- 
on of  its  power,  take  away. 

A  N  amiable  and  wife  woman  will,  always  have  fomething 
better  to  value  herfelf  on  than  outward  advantages,  which, 
however  captivating,  are  (till  but  fubordinate  parts  of  a  truly 
excellent  character. 

HOW  cruel  is  it  to  extinguifh,  by  neglect  or  unkindnefs, 
the  precious  fenfibility  of  an  open  temper,  to  chill  the  amiable 
glow  of  an  ingenious  foul,  and  to  quench  the  bright  flame  of  a 
noble  and  generous  fpirit !  Thefe  are  of  higher  worth,  than 
all  the  documents  of  learning  ;  of  dearer  price,  than  all  the  ad- 
vantages which  can  be  derived  from  the  raoft  refined  and  artifi- 
cial mode  of  education. 

THE  beft  of  men,  and  the  bed  of  books,  can  do  us  good, 


onl 
com 

alone. 


T  fo  far  as  they  turn  us  from  themfelves,  and  every  human 
fort,  to  feek  and  receive  every  kind  of  good,   from  God 


T  O  defire  to  communicate  good  to  every  creature,  in  the 
degree' we  can,  and  it  is  capable  of  receiving  from  us,  is  a  oli- 
vine temper  ;  for  thus  God  Hands  unchangeably  difpofed  to- 
wards the  whole  creation. 


I  N  vain  thou  hop'ft  for  blifs  on  this  poor  clod  ; 
Return,  and  feek  thy  Father  and  thy  God. 
Yet  think  not  to  regain  thy  native  Ikv, 
Borne  on  the  wings  of  vain  philofophy. 
MyfTerious  paffage  !  hid  from  mortal  eves ; 
Soaring  you'll  fink,  and  finking  you  will  rife. 
Let  humble  thoughts  thy  wary  footfteps  guide  ; 
Regain  by  meeknefs,  what  thou  loft  by  pride, 

LET 


t    142    ) 

LET  thy  flock  clothe  the  naked,  and  thy  table  £<te<l  the 
hungry  ;  deliver  the  poor  from  oppreilion,  and  let  thy  conver- 
sation be  above.  Thus  (halt  thou  "  rejoice  in  hope/'  and  look 
forward  to  the  end  of  life,  as  the  consummation  of  thy  felicity. 

WHAT  an  example  is  Job,  to  fuch  as  have  loft  their  fub- 
ftance  all  at  once,  by  unforefeen  misfortunes  :— ~ (<  The  Lord 
gave — the  Lord  hath  taken  away.  BleiTed  be  the  name  of  the 
Lord." 


HUMANITY. 

A  H  me  !  how  little  knows  the  human  heart, 

The  pleafing  talk  of  foft'ning  other's  woe  ; 
Stranger  to  joys,  that  pity  can  impart, 

And  tears  fweet  Sympathy  can  teach  to  flow. 
If  e'er  I've  mourn'd  my  humble,  lowly  ftate  ; 

If  e'er  I've  bow'd  my  knee  at  fortune's  fhrine; 
If  e'er  a  wifh  efcap'd  me,  to  be  great, 

The  fervent  pray'r,  humanity,  was  thine. 
Pity  the  man,  who  hears  the  moving  tale 

Unmov'd,  to  whom  the  heart- felt  glow's  unknown ; 
On  whom  the  widow's  plaints  could  ne'er  prevail, 

Nor  made  the  injur 'd  wretch's  caufc  his  own. 
How  little  knows  he  th'  cxtatic  joy, 

The  thrilling  blifs  of  chearing  wan  defpair  ; 
How  little  knows  the  pleafing,  warm  employ, 

That  calls  the  grateful  tribute  of  a  tear. 
The  fplendid  dome,  the  vaulted  roof  to  rear, 

The  glare  of  pride  and  pomp,  be  grandeur  thine  ; 
To  wipe  from  mis'ry's  eye  the  wailing  tear, 

And  foothe  th'  oppreffed  orphan's  woes,  be  mine. 
Be  mine  the  blufh  of  modeft  worth  to  fpare, 

To  change  to  fmiles  affliction's  riling  figh  ; 
The  kindred  warmth  of  charity  to  fhare, 

Till  joy  (hall  fparkle  from  the  tear-mTd  eye. 
Can  the  loud  laugh,  the  mirth  infpiring  bowl, 

The  dance,  or  choral  fong,  or  jocund  ghc, 
AfFedt  the  glowing,  Sympathizing  foul, 

Or  warm  the  breaft,  humanitv,  like  thee  ? 

A  C- 


! 


(     143     J 

ACCEPTABLE   SACRIFICE. 

H  E  that  keepeth  the  law,  bringeth  offerings  enough  :  He 
that  taketh  heed  to  the  commandment,  ofFereth  a  peace-offering  : 
He  that  requiteth  a  good  turn  ofFereth  fine  flour  :  And  he  that 
giveth  alms,  facrificeth  praife.  To  depart  from  wickednefs,  is  a 
thing  pleafing  to  the  Lord  ;  and  to  forfake  unrighteoufnefs, 
is  a  propitiation.  Thou  (halt  not  appear  empty  before  the 
Lord  ;  for  all  thefe  things  are  to  be  done,  becaufe  of  the  com- 
mandment. The  offering  of  the  righteous  maketh  the  altar 
fat,  and  the  fweet  favour  thereof  is  before  the  Moft  High !  The 
facrifice  of  a  juft  man  is  acceptable,  and  the  memorial  thereof 
fhall  never  be  forgotten.     Eccles.  xxxv. 

W  E  fee  almoft  every  day,  the  unexpected  death  of  our  friends 
and  our  enemies ;  we  fee  new  graves  often  opened  for  men 
older  and  younger  than  ourfelves  ;  for  the  cautious  and  the 
carelefs,  the  diffolute  and  the  temperate  ;  for  men,  who  like 
us,  were  providing  to  enjoy  or  improve  hours  now  irreverfibly 
cut  off;  we  fee  all  this,  and  yet,  inftead  of  living,  let  year 
glide  after  year,  in  preparations  to  live. 

A  M  A  N  that  farteth  for  his  fins,  and  goeth  again  and  do- 
eth  the  fame,  who  will  hear  his  prayer  ?  or  what  doth  his  hum- 
bling profit  him.     Eccles.  xxxiv.  26. 

THE  mind  is  never  fo  fenfibly  difpofed  to  pitv  the  fuffer- 
ings  of  others,  as  when  it  is  itfelf  fubdued  and  foftened  by  ca- 
lamity. Adverfity  diffufes  a  kind  of  facred  calm  over  the  breaft, 
that  is  the  parent  of  thoughtfulnefs  and  meditation. 

H  E  that  looks  upon  the  bufinefs  and  buttle  of  the  world, 
with  the  philofophy  with  which  Socrates  furveyed  the  fair  at 
Athens,  will  turn  away  at  laft  with  his  exclamation,  M  how 
many  things  are  here  which  I  do  not  want." 

WHILE  affliction  prepares  us  for  felicity,  we  may  con- 
fole  ourfelves  under  its  preiTures,  by  remembering,  that  they 
are  no  particular  marks  of  divine  difpleafure,  fince  all  the  dif- 
treffes  of  perfecution  have  been  fuffered  by  thofe,  "  of  whom 
the  world  was  not  worthy ;"  and  the  P'edeemer  of  mankind 
fiimfelf  was  M  a  man  of  forrows,  and  acquainted  with  grief." 

IF 


(     14+    ) 

I  F  thou  haft  gathered  nothing  in  thy  youth,  how  Canft  thoa 
find  any  thing  in  thine  age  ? 

Much  experience  is  the  crown  of  old  men,  and  the  fear  of 
God  is  their  glory. 

Oh,  how  great  is  he  that  findeth  wifdom  !  Yet  is  there  none 
above  him  that  feareth  the  Lord  !  The  fear  of  the  Lord  is  the 
beginning  of  his  love ;  and  faith  is  the  beginning  of  cleaving 
unto  him. 

O  F  all  the  virtues,  there  are  none  ought  more  to  be  incul- 
cated, into  the  mind  of  a  young  girl,  than  modefty  and  meek- 
nefs.  Vanity  and  pride  are  perpetually  endeavouring  to  force 
their  way  into  the  heart ;  and  too  much  care  cannot  be  taken 
to  repulfe  their  efforts. 

W  E  muft,  in  this  world,  gain  a  relifh  of  truth  and  virtue, 
if  we  would  be  able  to  tafte  that  knowledge  and  perfection, 
which  are  to  make  us  happy  in  the  next. 


The  Governess:   A  Simile. 

A  S  when  blithe  lambs  their  vernal  revels  keep, 
Bound  from  the  turf,  and  o'er  the  hillocki  leap  ; 
Now  harmlefs  try  to  butt,  then  run  away; 
Now  wearied  feed,  and  thus  confume  the  day— 
Th'  indulgent  (hepherdefs  attentive  lies, 
Left  from  the  woods  fome  fudden  foe  fhould  rife,     s 
And  as  they  play,  her  harmlefs  flock  furprize.       J 
So,  the  fage  governefs,  whofe  conftant  care 
By  wifdom's  dictates,  forms  the  tender  fair  ; 
When  her  gay  female  throng,  to  fport  inclin'd, 
Sufpend  the  nobler  pleafures  of  the  mind, 
With  jealous  eyes  each  motion  does  furvey, 
Left  they  mould  fwerve  from  virtue  in  their  play. 

CHILDREN,  like  tender  oziers,  take  the  bow, 
And  as  they  firft  are  falhion'd,  always  grow  ; 
Eor  what  we  learn  in  youth,  to  that  alone 
In  age  we  are  by  fecond  nature  prone. 

Ex  tract 


{     »4J    > 

Extract  from  Young's  Night  Thoughts. 

THE  chamber,  where  the  good  man  meets  his  far?, 
Is  privileg'd  bevcnd  the  common  walk 
Of  virtuous  life,  quite  in  the  verge  of  Heav'n. 
Flv,   ve  profane  !  if  not  draw  near  with  awe, 
Receive  the  ble-Iing,  and  adore  the  hand 
That  threw  in  this  Bethfeda  your  difeafe. 
If  unreftor'd  by  this,  defp-air  your  cure  ; 
For  here,  refiitlefs  demonitration  dwells — 
A  death-bed's  a  detector  of  the  heart ; 
Here  tir'd  diffimulation  drops  her  malk, 
Thro'  life's  grimace,  that  miftrefs  of  the  fcene  ! 
Here  real,  and  apparent,  are  the  fame. 
You  fee  the  man,   you  fee  his  hold  on  Heav'n, 
If  found  his  virtue,  as  Philander's  found, 
Heav'n  waits  not  the  laft  moment,  owns  her  friends 
On  this  fide  death,  and  points  them  out  to  men — 
A  lefturefilent,   but  of  fov 'reign  pow'r  ! 
To  vice,  confufion — and  to  virtue*,  peace. 


I  T  is  a  certain  fign  of  an  ill  heart,  to  be  inclined  to  defa- 
mation. They  who  are  harmlefs  and  innocent,  can  ha\  e  no 
gratification  that  way  ;  but  it  ever  arifes  from  a  neglect  of  what 
is  laudable  in  a  man's  felf,  and  an  impatience  of  feeing  it  in 
another. 

T  O  forbear  replying  to  an  unjuft  reproach,  and  overlook 
it,  with  a  generous,  or  (ifpofflble)  with  an  entire  neglect  of  it, 
is  one  of  the  moil  heroic  acts  of  a  great  mind. 

EVERY  appearance  of  amiable  fimplicity,  or  of  honeft 
fhame,  nature's  hafty  confcience,  will  be  dear  to  fenfible  hearts  ; 
they  will  carefully  cherifh  every  fuch  indication  in  a  young  fe- 
male ;  for  they  will  perceive,  that  it  is  this  temper,  wifely  culti- 
vated, which  will  one  day  make  her  enamoured  of  the  lovelinefs 
of  virtue  and  the  beauty  of  holinefs;  from  which  flie  will  ac- 
quire a  tafte  for  the  doctrines  of  religion,  and  a  fpirit  to  perform 
the  duties  of  it. 

N  THE 


(     >46    ) 

THE  hvpocrify  of  aiTuming  virtues,  which  are  not  inhe- 
rent in  the  heart,  prevents  the  growth  and  diiclcfurc  of  thofe 
real  ones,  which  it  is  the  great  end  of  education  to  cultivate. 

GOOD  difpofitions,  of  themfelves,  will  go  but  a  very 
little  way,  unlefs  they  are  confirmed  into  good  principles.  And 
this  cannot  be  effected,  but  by  a  careful  courfe  of  religious  in- 
ferucKon,  and  a  patient  and  laborious  cultivation  of  the  moral 
temper. 

I  N  the  great  and  univerfal  concern  of  religion,  both  fexes, 
and  all  ranks,  are  equally  interefted.  The  truly  catholic  fpirit 
of  Chriftianity  accommodates  itfelf,  with  an  aftoniihing  con- 
defcenfion,  to  the  circumftances  of  the  whole  human  race. 

L  E  T  no  miftaken  girl  fancy  me  gives  a  proof  of  her  wit, 
by  her  want  of  piety ;  or  that  a  contempt  of  things  ferious  and 
facred,  will  exalt  her  underflanding,  or  raife  her  character, 
even  in  the  opinion  of  the  mofl  avowed  male  infidels. 

CICERO  fpoke  it  as  the  higher!:  commendation  of  Cato's 
character,  that  he  embraced  philofophy,  not  for  the  fake  of 
difputing  like  a  philofopher,  but  of  living  like  one.  The  chief 
purpofe  of  Chriilian  knowledge,  is  to  promote  the  great  end 
of  a  Chriilian  life. 


From  the  book  of  wifdom  : — Hearken  unto  thy  father — defpife 
not  thy  mother  when  fhe  is  old.     Extract  : 

'T I  S  wifdom  fpeaks — her  voice  divine 
Attend  my  fon,  and  life  is  thine. 
Thine,  taught  to  fnun  the  devious  way, 
W]  .^re  foil  v  leads  the  blind  aitray  : 
Let  virtue's  lamp  thy  footfteps  guide, 

id  fhun  the  dang'rous  heights  of  pride  ; 

he  peaceful  vale,  the  golden  mean, 
T/.-    .  ath  of  life  purfue  ferene. 

From  infancv  what  iufFeiings  fpring— « 
While  yet  a  naked  helplefs  thing, 

•   7f\ 


(     H7     ) 

Who  o'er  thy  limbs  a  gov 'ring  caft, 
To  (hield  thee  from  th'  inclement  blaft  ? 
Thy  mother — honour  her — her  arms 
Secur'd  thee  from  a  thoufand  harms ; 
When  helplefs,  hanging  on  her  brealt, 
She  footh'd  thy  fobbing  heart  to  reft  ; 
For  thee  her  peace,  her  health  deftroy 'd, 
For  thee,  her  ev'ry  pow'r  employ 'd  : 
Thoughtful  of  thee,  before  the  day 
Shot  thro'  the  dark  its  rifing  ray  ;  , 
Thoughtful  of  thee,  when  fable  night 
Again  had  quench 'd  the  beams  of  light ; 
To  Heav'n,  in  ceafelefs  pray'r  for  thee 
She  rais'd  her  head,  and  bent  her  knee. 
Defpife  her  not,  now  feeble  grown — 
Oh  !  make  her  wants  and  woes  thy  own  ; 
Let  not  thy  lips  rebel  ;  nor  eyes, 
Herweaknefs,  frailty,  years,  defpife  ; 
From  youthful  infolence  defend, 
Be  patron,  hufband,  guardian,  friend. 
Thus  (halt  thou  foothe,  in  life's  decline, 
The  mis'ries  that  may  once  be  thine. 

A  N  unwary  moment  may  happen  to  the  moft  guarded  and 
referved  ;  and  this  reflection  ought  to  fill  us  with  charity  for 
others. 

A  PRUDENT  man  hath  his  eyes  open,  and  his  mouth 
fhut;  and  as  much  deiires  to  inform  himfelf,  as  to  inftruct 
others. 

I  N  difcourfe,  make  not  too  great  a  profusion  or  expence  of 
your  knowledge,  left  your  treafure  be  foon  exhaufted. 

THE  thought  of  immortality,  the  hope  of  endlefs  happi- 
nefs,  is  enough  to  animate  the  foul  with  the  nobieft  ambition, 
and  yet  make  it  look,  with  the  humbleft  companion,  upon  that 
part  of  the  creation,  that  wants  fo  divine  a  hope. 

The 


(    hs    ) 

The  latter  Part  of  the  3d  Chap,  of  Habbakuk  imitated. 

A  L  T  H  O'  the  blooming  plants  forget  to  fhootj 
The  rig- tree  fade,  and  vines  deny  their  fruit  ; 
No  tafteful  olives  finim  our  repaft, 
Nor  op  ning  buds  furvive  the  wintry  bbft ; 
The  barren  fields  their  wonted  blades  withhold, 
And  lambs  no  longer  fill  the  fcanty  fold; 
Nor  flocks,  nor  herds,  around  the  vale  be  feen, 
But  one  ftem  famine  fweep  th'  impov'rifh'd  green- 
Yet  fhall  the  God  of  nature  claim  my  praife, 
Wake  my  firft  fongs,  and  (bare  mv  latere  lavs. 
Each  night  and  morn  fhall  firing  the  duteous  lyre, 
And  all  my  nerves  retouch  with  facred  fire  ; 
Hills,  vales,  and  groves,  the  founding  anthem  own, 
And  the  fweet  echoes  reach  th'  unfhaken  throne, 
Where  reigns  forever,  in  unclouded  day, 
My  guide,  that  leads  at  once  and  lights  my  way. 
He  from  my  paths  will  turn  th/  oppoling  wind, 
And  give  my  feet  the  fwiftnefs  of  the  hind  ; 
Life's  rugged  tracts  make  like  the  pleafant  plains, 
On  whofe  fmooth  ground  the  traveler  fooths  his  pains. 


*'  IF  thine  enemy  hunger,  feed  him  ;  if  he  thirft,  give  him 
drink/'  That  is,  if  we  behold  our  enemy  labouring  under  any 
extraordinarv  diftrefs  or  calamity,  which  it  is  in  our  power  to  re- 
move, or  alleviate,  as  in  the  cafe  of  extreme  poverty,  ficknefs, 
or  misfortune,  we  ought  then  cheerfully  to  lend  him  our  help 
and  afliiiance,  to  extricate  him  out  of  his  difficulties  or  afflicti- 
ons. An  amiable  example  of  which  our  Saviour  affords  us  in 
the  parable  of  the  good  Samaritan,  who  had  a  much  better  rea- 
fon  for  neglecting  the  diftrefled  traveller,  than  either  the  prieil, 
or  the  Levite,  viz.  Becaufe  he  was  a  Jew,  and  therefore  his  de- 
clared enemy.  But  in  him  all  party-animofities  were  overpow- 
ered by  the  tender  feelings  of  pity  and  companion. 

SELFISHNESS  may  indifferently  happen  to  be  a  mo- 
tive to  an  action,  that,  in  itfelf,  is  either  good  or  evil,  either 

hurtful 


(     H9     ) 

hurtful  or  beneficent.  But,  as  far  as  felfifhnefs,  merely,  is  a 
motive  to  any  action,  it  never  had,  nor  can  have,  any  relation 
to  virtue.  We  muft  fearch  fomewhat  deeper  for  the  root  of  that 
tree,  which  is  productive  of  this  divine  fruit. 

ALL  who  would  pleafe  the  great,  muft  be  flatterers  ;  but 
the  true  province  of  friendship  is,  to  put  us  in  mind  of  our  own 
faults. 

MEEKNESS  makes  any  condition  tolerable  and  eafy  to 
be  endured.  He  that  meekly  bears  any  fuffering,  takes  oil  the 
edge  of  it,  that  it  cannot  wound  him  :  whereas  he  that  frets 
and  rages  at  it,  whets  it,  and  makes  it  much  {harper  than  it 
would  other  wife  be. 

I  T  is  faid  of  our  bleffed  Saviour,  that  S(  he  was  led  as  a 
fheep  to  the  (laughter ;  that  when  he  was  reviled,  reviled  not 
again  ;  when  he  futFered,  threatened  not."  And  if  he,  the  Lord 
of  glory,  fuffered  thus  meekly  and  unjuftly  from  his  own  crea- 
tures, with  what  face  can  we  ever  complain  of  any  injury  dor\Q 
to  us  ? 

B  E  very  watchful  over  thine  heart,  and  never  fufFer  it  to 
feed  on  the  fancy  ot  thy  own  worth  :  but  whenever  any  fuch 
thought  arifes,  beat  it  down  immediately,  with  the  remem- 
brance of  fome  of  thy  follies  or  fins,  and  fo  make  this  very  mo- 
tion of  pride  an  occaiion  of  humility. 

NEVER  compare  thyfelf  with  thofe  thou  thinkeit  more 
fooliih  or  mere  wicked,  that  fo  thou  mayeft,  like  the  Phari- 
fee,  extol  thyfelf  for  being  better  ;  but  if  thou  wilt  compare, 
do  it  with  the  wife  and  godly  ;  and  then  thou  wilt  find  thou 
coined  fo  far  fhort,  as  may  help  to  pull  down  thy  high  efteem 
of  thyfelf. 

POVERTY  is  apt  to  betray  a  man  into  envy,  riches  into 
arrogance;  poverty  is  too  often  attended  with  fraud,  vicious 
compliance^,  repining,  murmur  and  diicontent.  Riches  expofe 
a  man  to  pride  and  luxury,  a  foolifh  elation  of  heart-,  and  too 
great  a  fondnefs  fcr  the  prefent  world.  In  inort,  the  middle 
condition  is  moil  eligible.  N  2  WINTER 


f     *5°     J 
WINTER. 

THE  fields,  difconfolate  and  fad, 

\  >  vegetation  bring  ; 
No  verdure  makes  the  peafant  glad, 

Nor  flicws  the  welcome  fpring. 
No  more  the  trees,  in  lively  green, 

Their  leafy  honours  Ihew  ; 
The  boughs,  where  trembling  leaves  were  feen, 

Exhibit  flakes  of  (now. 
The  plumy  race  of  various  dies, 

Have  loft  their  wonted  lire  ; 
To  thickets  clofe,  from  low 'ring  Ikies, 

The  feather 'd  tribe  retire. 
The  chryftal  floods,  in  fetters  bound, 

No  milling  torrents  feel ; 
In  vain,  aufpicious  gales  are  found, 

To  waft  the  glofTy  keel. 
In  icy  fetters  they  remain, 

Depriv'd  of  liberty, 
'Till  gentle  zephyrs  loofe  the  chain, 

And  fet  the  captives  free. 

The   truly  Great. 

THEY'RE  only  great,  whom  no  bafe  motivf  is\\£%> 
Who  owe  no  glory  to  the  breath  of  fools ; 
Friends  to  true  merit,  to  their  country  dear, 
To  others  kind,  but  to  themfelves  fevere  ; 
Quiet  in  fuff'ring,  with  their  lot  content, 
And  caieful  to  improve  the  talent  lent ; 
Good  without  oride,  tho'  humble,  yet  not  mean, 
In  danger  fearlefs,  and  in  death  ferene. 


I  F  every  perfon  would  confider,  that  he  is  in  this  life 
nothing  more  than  a  paflenger,  and  that  he  is  not  to  fet  up 
Ills  reft  here,  but  to  keep  an  attentive  eye  upon  that  fbte 
of  being  to  which  he  approaches  Q\xxy  moment,  and  which 

will 


(  tp  ) 

will  be  forever  fixed  and  permanent  ;  this  (ingle  confi deration 
would  be  fuflicient  to  extinguish  the  bitternefs  of  hatred,  the 
thirll  of  avarice,  and  the  cruelty  of  ambition. 

I  T  is  a  great  prefumption,  to  afcribe  our  fuccefTes  to  our 
own  management,  and  not  to  efteem  ourfelves  upon  any  blef- 
fing,  rather  as  it  is  the  bounty  of  Heaven,  than  the  acquifition 
of  our  own  prudence. 


Extract  from  "  A  Midnight  Thought.5 ' 

WHILE  active  thought  unfeals  my  eye, 
And  midnight  darknefs  (hades  the  Iky, 
Ee  hufh'd,  my  foul,  ye  moments  flay, 
While  I  rejudge  the  guilty  day. 
See  confcience  glares,  more  dreadful  made 
By  filence  and  the  awful  made ! 
She  points  her  poignard  to  my  breaft, 
And  bids  my  juftice  fpeak  the  reft. 
Then  think,  my  foul,  while  Heav'n  gives  breathy 
And  antedate  the  ftroke  of  death! 
Reflect  how  fwift  the  moments  fly, 
Nor  linger,  unprepar'd  to  die  ! 
Penfive  revolve,  'ere  yet  too  late, 
The  fcenes  of  an  eternal  ftate, 
A  feries  of  unnumber'd  years 
Or  crown'd  with  joys,  or  loft  in  tears. 
What  awful  hints  thefe  thoughts  infpire, 
They  chill  the  blood,  they  pall  defire  ; 
They  teach  the  foul  her  Heav'nly  birth, 
And  banifh  all  the  pomps  on  earth. 
Here,  as  in  air,  a  bubble  toft, 
Her  worth  unknown,  her  genius  loft  ; 
At  pleafure's  fancy  has  fhe  drove, 
Forgetful  of  her  feat  above  ! 
Oh  !   what  fuch  folly  can  atone  ? 
Reafon  dejedted  from  her  throne  ; 
Let  humble  penitence  reftore, 
And  bid  my  foul  to  err  no  more, 

All 


(  If*  ) 

All  clement  thou,  oh  God  !  all  jaft, 
The  good  man's  rock,  the  tinner's  truft ; 
Accept  the  blood  my  Saviour  iried, 
To  lave  from  woe  this  guilty  head. 
Oh  !  fend  thy  life-reftoring  grace, 
Effufe  the  liiitre  cf  thy  face  ; 
From  guilt  and  forrow  fet  me  free, 
And  guide  me,  till  I  come  to  thee. 


NOTHIN  G  will  give  a  greater  luftre  to  all  your  virtues, 
than  modefty. 

HE  that  is  his  own  appraifer,  will  be  miflaken  in  the  value. 

A  LITTLE  efteem  of  one's  lelf,  hinders  a  great  deal  from 
others ;  boafting  may  gain  applaufe  from  fools,  but  it  puts  a 
wife  man  to  the  expence  of  a  blufh. 

SELF  efteem,  is  commonly  punifhed  by  univerfal  contempt. 

N  O  revenge  is  more  heroic,  than  that  which  torments  envy- 
by  doing  good. 

I T  is  in  vain  for  him  to  pretend  to  love  either  God  or  man 
who  loves  his  money  fo  much  better,  that  he  will  fee  his  poor 
brother  (who  is  a  man,  and  bears  the  image  of  God)  fuffer  all 
extremities,  rather  than  part  with  any  thing  to  relieve  him. 

"  He  that  giveth  to  the  poor,  lendeth  unto  the  Lord" — 
and  that  too  on  folemn  promife  of  repayment.  "  That  which 
he  hath  given,  will  he  pay  him  again.''  It  is,  amongft  men, 
thought  a  great  difparagement,  when  we  refufe  to  truft  them  : 
It  fnews  we  either  think  them  not  fufficient,  or  not  honeft. 
How  great  an  affront  is  it  then  to  God,  thus  to  diftruft  him  ? 

Innumerable  accidents  there  are,  which  may,  in  an  inftant, 
bring  a  rich  man  to  beggary  :  And  therefore,  what  courfe 
fo  prudent  can  we  take  for  our  wealth,  as  to  put  it  out  of 
the  reach  of  thofe  accidents,  by  lending  it  to  God,  where 
we  may  be  fare  to  find  it  read;  at  cur  grcateft  need,  and  that 
too  with  improvement  and  increale  I 

The 


{  III  } 

The  contented  Country  Maid. 

WHAT  happinefs  the  rural  maid  attends, 

In  chearful  labour  vhile  each  day  (he  fpends ; 

She  gratefully  receives  what  Heaven  has  fentj 

And,  rich  in  poverty,  enjoys  content. 

She  feldom  feels  the  fpleen's  imagin'd  pains, 

Nor  melancholy  ftagnates  in  her  veins ; 

She  rarely  lofes  life  in  thoughtlefs  eafe, 

Nor  on  the  velvet  couch  invites  difeafe. 

Her  homefpun  drefs  in  fimple  neatnefs  lies, 

And  for  no  glaring  equipage  (he  fighs. 

Her  reputation,  which  is  all  her  boait, 

In  a  malicious  vifit  ne'er  was  loft. 

No  midnight  mafquerade  her  beauty  wears, 

And  health,  not  paint,  the  fading  bloom  repairs. 

If  love  and  quiet  in  her  bofom  reign, 

And  like  enjoyment  in  her  happy  twain. 

No  homebred  jars  her  quiet  ftate  controul, 

Nor  watchful  jealoufy  torments  her  foul. 

With  fecret  joy  (he  fees  her  little  race 

Reft  on  her  knee,  and  her  fmali  cottage  grace  ; 

The  fleecy  ball  their  bufy  fingers  cull, 

Or  from  the  fpindle  draw  the  lengthening  wool ; 

Thus  flow  her  hours,  with  conftant  peace  of  mind, 

Till  age  the  lateft  thread  of  life  unwind. 

O  F  all  thofe  forrows  that  attend  mankind, 
With  patience  bear  the  lot  to  thee  aflign'd, 
Nor  think  it  chance,   nor  murmur  at  the  load, 
For  know  what  man  calls  fortune,  is  from  God. 


AMONG  the  antient  Romans,  it  was  not  the  houfe  which 
honoured  the  mafter,  but  the  mafter  the  houfe.  A  cottage 
with  them  became  as  auguft  as  a  temple,  when  juftice,  gene- 
rofity,  probity,  fmcerity,  and  honour,  were  lodged  in  it ;  and 
how  can  a  houfe  be  called  finall,  which  contains  fo  many 
and  fuch  great  virtues  ? 

AN 


(      *S4      ) 

A  N  extraordinary  merit  may  lie  hid  under  a  mean  habit,  as 
a  rich  garment  may  cove*  enormous  vices, 

THE  nobility  arifing  from  birth,  is  by  far  inferior  to  that 
which  proceeds  from  merit. 

MARCUS  Aurelius  was  averfe  to  every  thing  that  had 
the  air  of  pomp  and  luxury.  He  lay  upon  the  bare  ground  ; 
at  twelve  years  old  he  took  the  habit  of  a  Philofopher  ;  he 
forbore  the  ufe  of  guards,  the  imperial  ornaments,  and  the  en- 
figns  of  honour,  which  were  carried  before  the  Casfars  and 
the  Augufti.  Nor  was  this  conduct  owing  to  hib  ignorance  of 
what  was  grand  and  beautiful,  but  to  the  jufter  and  purer  tafte 
he  had  of  both,  and  to  an  intimate  perfuafion,  that  the  greateft 
glory,  and  principal  duty  of  man,  efpecially  if  in  power,  and 
eminently  confpicuous,  is  fo  far  to  imitate'  the  Deity,  as  to 
throw  himfelf  into  a  condition  of  wanting  as  little  as  may  be 
for  himfelf,  and  doing  all  the  good  to  others  he  is  capable  of. 

I  Fit  fhews  a  greatnefs  of  foul  to  overlook  our  own  nobility, 
and  not  fufFer  it  to  gain  the  afceiidant  over  our  actions,  we 
may  likewife  obferve,  that  it  is  no  lefs  great  in  fuch  as  have 
raifed  themfelves  by  merit,  not  to  forget  the  meannefs  of  their 
extraction,  nor  be  afhamed  of  it. 

W  E  read  in  the  fcriptures,  that  Boaz,  in  the  midft  of  riches, 
was  laborious,  diligent  in  husbandry,  plain  without  luxury, 
delicacy,  floth  or  pride.  How  affable,  how  obliging  and 
kind  to  his  fervants  !  w  The  Lord  be  with  you,"  fays  he  to 
his  reapers;  and  they  anfwered  him,  "  the  Lord  blefs  thee." 
This  was  the  beautiful  language  of  religious  antiquity  ;  but 
how  little  known  in  our  days. 

How  commendable  was  his  behaviour  towards  Ruth,  when 
he  defires  her  not  to  go  into  any  other  field  to  glean,  but  to 
abide  faft  by  his  maidens,  to  eat  and  drink  with  them,  and  the 
charitable  order  he  gives  his  reapers  to  let  her  glean  even 
among  the  (heaves,  and  to  let  fall  fome  of  the  handfuls  on 
purpofe  for  her  that  fhe  might  gather  them  up  without  being 
afhamed ;  teaching  us  by  this  wife  conduct,  to  fave  thofe  we 
oblige,  the  confufion  of  receiving,  and  ourfelves  the  tempta- 
tion of  vain-glory  in  giving,  THE 


(  *ii  ) 

THE  Providence  of  God  is  univerfal ;  it  prefides  over  all 
to  the  minuteft  particular,  and  governs  and  direds  all. 


Part  of  the  Book  of  Job  verfified. 

FOND  man,  the  vifion  of  a  moment  made — > 
Dream  of  a  dream,  and  fhadow  of  a  made  ; 
What  worlds  haft  thou  produc'd,  what  creatures  fram'd  ? 
What  infefts  cherim'd,  that  thy  God  is  blam'd  ? 
When  pain'd  with  hunger,  the  wild  raven's  brood 
Call  upon  God,  importunate  for  food, 
Wlio  hears  their  cry  ?  Who  grants  their  hoarfe  requeft, 
And  (tills  the  clamour  of  the  craving  neft  ? 
Who  taught  the  hawk  to  find,  in  feafons  wife, 
Perpetual  fummers  and  a  change  of  ikies  ? 
When  clouds  deform  the  year,  (he  mounts  the  wind, 
Shoots  to  the  fou th,  nor  fears  the  dorm  behind. 
The  fun  returning,  (he  returns  again, 
Lives  in  his  beams,  and  leaves  ill  days  to  men. 
Am  I  a  debtor  ?    Haft  thou  ever  heard 
Whence  come  the  gifts  that  are  on  me  confer'd  ? 
My  laviih  fruit  a  thoufand  vallies  fills, 
And  mine  the  herds  that  graze  a  thoufand  hills. 
Earth,  fea  and  air,  all  nature  is  my  own, 
And  ftars  and  fun  are  duft  beneath  my  throne, 
And  dar'ft  thou,  with  the  world's  great  father  vie, 
Thou  who  doft  tremble  at  my  creatures  eye  ? 

Then  the  Chaldean  eas'd  his  lab'ring  bread, 
With  full  conviction  of  his  crime  oppreft. 
Thou  canft  accompiifh  all  things,  Lord  of  might ! 
And  every  thought  is  naked  to  thy  (ight — 
But  oh  !  thy  ways  are  wonderful,  and  lie 
Beyond  the  deepeft  reach  of  mortal  eye. 
Oft  have  I  heard  of  thine  Almighty  pow'r, 
But  never  faw  thee  till  this  dreadful  hour. 
O'erwhelm'd  with  (hame,  the  Lord  of  life  I  fee, 
Abhor  myfelf,  and  give  my  foul  to  thee. 
Nor  (hall  my  weaknefs  tempt  thine  anger  more, 
Man  was  not  made  to  queftion,  but  adore.  To 


(     156    ) 

To  a  Child  of  a  Month  old. 

B  L  E  S  S  '  D  babe,  who  ftranger  to  all  worldly  ftrife* 
Art  lately  launched  upon  the  fea  of  life  ; 
And  midft  thofe  dangerous  waves  wilt  foon  be  toft, 
Where  fome  by  pleafure,  fome  by  pain,  are  loft — 
Who  yet  not  feels,  nor  fear 'ft  to  feel  the  rage 
Of  ftorms,  that  threaten  man's  maturer  age  ; 
But  view'ft,  with  carelefs  and  indiif 'rent  eyes, 
The  clouds  of  folly  that  arround  thee  rife. 
Accept,  nor  fear  infection  from  my  fong, 
Few  authors  flatter  at  an  age  fo  young. 
Look  round  the  habitable  world  and  fee, 
Who  would  not  wiih  to  change  their  place  with  thee. 
Would  not  the  mif^r  broach  each  fav'rite  mine, 
His  heart  as  eafy,  thoughts  as  free  as  thine  ? 
What  would  the  hoary  villain  not  endure, 
His  hands  as  innocent,  his  foul  as  pure. 
Would  not  the  fpendthrift  beg  his  fquander'd  ore, 
To  purchafe  half  the  blifs  thou  haft  in  ftore  ? 
Ne'er  was  a  maxim  truer  fure  than  this, 
That  want  of  innocence  is  want  of  blifs ; 
'Tis  this,  'tis  innocence,  thy  bofom  cheers, 
This  calms  thy  troubles,  this  difpels  thy  fears  ; 
This  fpreads  o'er  all  its  beautifying  rays, 
Makes  every  objecl,  every  play-thing,  pleafe. 
This  (whilft  kfs  things  the  guilty  breait  can  awe) 
Gives  mufick  to  a  key,  and  oeauty  to  a  ft  raw. 
So  thro'  the  prifm ,  tc  philosophic  eyes, 
The  barren  lawns  in  pleafing  profped  rife. 
Steep  hills  in  azure  tempt  the  diftant  light, 
Wafte  wilds  look  lovely  in  a  borrow'd  light. 
Deck'c  by  the  glafs  the  cottage  apes  the  throne, 
And  fhines  in  colours  that  were  ne'er  its  own. 
Long  may  this  pleafmgcalm  remain  within, 
Unknown  to  trouble,  as  unknown  to  ftn  ; 
When  infant  reafon  ihall  begin  to  rife, 
Prate  on  thy  lips,  and  wanton  in  thy  eves, 
Oh  !  may  this  charm  thy  ev'ry  care  beguile, 
AiTift  thy  prattle,  and  improve  thy  fmile. 

When 


(     '57     ) 

When  growing  fenfe,  to  ripping  judgment  join'd, 
Shall  fix  a  doubtful  empire  in  thy  mind — 
If  heat  of  blood  with  wanton  frenzy  warm — 
If  eafe  fhould  tempt  thee,  or  if  pleafure  charm, 
Oh  !  may  this  love  of  virtue,  love  of  truth, 
Lead  thee  dill  fafe  thro'  all  the  paths  of  youth. 
Next  when  thy  part  in  life's  dill  varying  plan 
Shall  call  thee  forward  on  the  flage  of  man, 
Oh  !  may  it  keep  thee  honed,  gen'rous,  jud, 
True  to  thy  word,  and  cautious  of  thy  truft ; 
Light  in  thy  foul  devotion's  facred  flame, 
Make  virtue  all  thy  wifh,  and  Heav'n  thy  aim. 
And  lad,  when  manhood's  vigour  (hall  decay, 
Time  fhake  thy  head,  and  filver't  o'er  with  grey, 
Long  may  this  fov'reign  remedy  remain, 
To  prop  thy  weaknefs,  and  affuage  thy  pain  ; 
3 Till  the  lad  moment  fhed  its  kindly  ray, 
And  glad  the  evening  of  thy  well-fpeni  day. 
But  may  ten  thoufand  pleafures  rife  between 
Thy  opening  curtain,  and  this  cloiing  fcene  ; 
May  health  attend  thee,  beautiful  and  gay, 
And  fmooth,  thro'  life,  thy  Me  too  rugged  way. 


PROSPERITY  quickens,  and  gives  a  fort  of  fake  cou- 
rage to  men  of  low,  degenerate  minds,  and  drefies  them  up 
in  an  outward  grandeur,  which  impofes  upon  the  majority  of 
mankind  ;  but  adverfity  is  the  touchdone  of  fouls  truly  great 
and  generous. 

SILENCE  is  fometimes  more  Ggnificant  and  fublime, 
than  the  mod  noble  and  mod  expreifive  eloquence,  and  is,  on 
many  occadons,  the  indication  of  a  great  mind. 

But  filence  never  mows  itfelf  to  fo  great  an  advantage, 
as  when  it  is  made  the  reply  to  calumny  and  defamation,  pro- 
vided that  we  give  no  juft  occafion  for  them. 

HOW  different  is  the  view  of  pad  life,  in  the  man  who  is 
grpwa  old  in  knowledge  and  wifdoxfc,  from  that  of  him  who 
O  U 


(     «*8     ) 

is  grown  old  in  ignorance  and  folly.  The  latter  is  like  the 
owner  of  a  barren  country,  that  fills  his  eye  with  the  profpect 
of  naked  hills  and  plains,  which  produce  nothing  either  pro- 
fitable or  ornamental  ;  the  other  beholds  a  beautiful  and  fpaci- 
ous  landfcape,  divided  into  delightful  gardens,  green  meadows, 
fruitful  fields,  and  can  fcarce  caft  his  eye  on  a  fingle  fpct  of 
his  poiTefllons,  that  is  not  covered  with  fome  beautiful  plant  or 
flower. 

T  O  look  upon  the  foul  as  going  on  from  ftrength  to  ftrength, 
to  confider  that  (he  is  to  mine  forever  with  new  accefnons  of 
glory,  and  brighten  to  all  eternity.;  that  {lie  will  be  ftill  add- 
ing virtue  to  virtue,  and  knowledge  to  knowledge,  carries  in 
it  fomething  wonderfully  agreeable  to  that  ambition,  which  is 
natural  to  the  mind  of  man.  Nay,  it  rauft  be  a  profped  plea- 
fing  to  God  himfelf,  to  fee  his  creation  forever  beautifying  in 
his  eves,  and  drawing  nearer  to  him,  by  greater  degrees  of  re- 
e  mblance. 

THAT  we  might  not  want  inducements  to  engage  us  in 
■fuch  an  exercife  of  the  body,  as  is  proper  for  its  welfare,  it  is 
fo  ordered,  that  nothing  valuable  can  be  procured  without  it. 
Not  to  mention  riches  and  honour,  even  food  and  raiment  are 
not  to  be  come  at  without  the  toil  of  the  hands,  and  fweat  of 
the  brows.  Providence  furnifhes  materials,  but  expects  that 
we  mould  work  them  up  ourfelves. 

As  for  thofe  who  are  not  obliged  to  labour,  by  the  condi- 
tion in  which  they  are  born,  they  are  more  miferable  than  the 
reft  of  mankind,  unlefs  they  indulge  themfelves  in  that  volun- 
tary labour,  which  gees  by  the  name  of  exercife. 


Thoughts  on  the  Grave  of  a  Child.— By  a  Father. 

HERE,  here  (he  lies  !  oh  !  could  I  once  more  view 
1  hofe  dear  remains ;  take  one  more  fond  adieu  ; 
Weep  o'er  that  face  of  innocence,  or  fave 
One  darling  feature,  from  the  noifome  grave  ! 
Vain  wifii  ! — now  low  in  earth  that  form  of  love 
Decavs,  unfeen ,  yet  not  forgot  above. 

In 


(    1*9    ) 

In  angel  light  array 'd,  beyond  the  ftars, 
Some  more  exalted  form  her  fpirit  wears. 
The  work  of  God,  that  beauteous  clay,  which  here 
In  infant  charms  fo  lovely  could  appear  ; 
As  tho'  in  nature's  niceft  model  call, 
Exactly  polifh'd,  wrought  too  fine  to  laft — 
By  the  fame  pow'rful  hand  again  fnall  rife, 
To  bloom  more  gay,  more  lovely  in  the  (kies. 
No  ficknefs  there  can  the  pure  frame  annoy, 
Nor  death  prefume  God's  image  to  deftrov. 
Thofe  feats  of  pleafure,  not  a  tear  {hall  ftain, 
In  them  not  ev'n  a  wifh  fhall  glow  in  vain. 

That  active  mind,  intent  on  trirles  here, 
Enlarges  now  to  objects  worth  its  care  ; 
Looks  down  with  fcorn  upon  the  toys  below, 
And  burns,  with  tranfport,  better  worlds  to  know, 
Where  fcenes  of  glory  open  to  her  iight, 
And  new  improvements  furnifh  new  delight; 
Where  friendly  angels,  for  her  guidance  giv'n, 
Lead  her,  admiring,  thro'  the  courts  of  Heavn. 

No  wonder  then  her  courfe  fo  fwiftly  run, 
Like  the  young  eaglet,  tow'ring  to  the  fun  ; 
Wing'd  for  eternal  blifs,  and  pium'd  for  day, 
Her  foul,  enraptur'd,  made  fuch  hafte  away, 
Impatient  to  regain  its  native  more, 
Juftfrnil'd  at  folly,  andlook'd  back  no  more. 

That  winning  nature,  and  obliging  mien, 
Pleas 'd  to  fee  all,  by  all  with  pleafure  feen. 
Smiling  and  fweet  as  vernal  fiow'rs  new  blown, 
Affociates  now  with  tempers  like  her  own. 

Her   love  to  me  (how  artlefs  and  f  ncere  !  ) 
Rifes  from  earth  to  Heav'n,  and  centers  there. 
So  pure  a  flame,  Heav'n's  gracious  Sire  will  own, 
And  with  paternal  love  indulgent  crown. 

Ceafe,  then,  frail  nature,  to  lament  in  vain, 
Reafon  forbids  to  wifh  her  back  again ; 
Rather  congratulate  her  happier  fate, 
And  new  advancement  to  a  better  ftate  ; 
This  bleffing  quick  recall'd,  can  Heav'n  bellow, 
No  more  in  pity  to  a  father's  woe  ? 


Know 


(     i&>     > 

Know  the  fame  God,  who  gave,  hath  tak'n  away, 
He  orders  her  to  go,  and  thee  to  Hay. 
Tho'  in  this  vale  of  mifery,  alone,  "1 

Deferted,  weary,  thou  fhould'ft  travel  on,        > 
Still  be  refign'd,  my  foul  !  his  will  be  dene.   J 

Efcap'd  from  life,  and  all  its  train  of  ills, 
Which,  ah  !  too  fure,  the  hoary  pilgrim  feels. 
To  fhorter  trial  doom'd,  and  lighter  toil, 
Ere  fin  could  tempt  her,  or  the  world  defile* 
She,  favoured  innocent,   retires  to  reft, 
Taftes  but  the  cup  of  forrow,   and  is  blefL 

Such  the  mild  Saviour  to  his  arms  receives, 
And  the  full  bleTmgs  of  his  kingdom  gives. 
There  angels  wait,  fubmiilive,  round  his  throne, 
To  praife  his  goodnefs  in  thefe  infants  fhewn. 
Arnidft  that  gentle  throng,  how  Heav'nly  bright, 
Divlinguim'd  Lucy  fhines,  fair  itar  of  !:■ 
Short,  yet  how  pleafmg,  was  her  vKkJiere, 
She's  now  remov'd  to  grace  a  nobler  Inhere  ; 
There,  while  thy  much  Ioy'd  parents  mourn  below, 
Thou,  happy  child,  fnall  not  our  forrows  know. 
Eternal  joys  be  thine,  full  anthems  raife, 
And  glad  ail  Keav'n  with  thy  Creator's  praife* 


I  F  we  are  firmly  refolved  to  live  up  to  the  diclates  of  rea- 
fon,  without  any  regard  to  wealth,  reputation,  or  the  like  con- 
fiderations,  any  more  than  as  they  fall  irfwith  our  principal 
defign,  we  may  go  through  life  with  fteadinefs  and  pleasure  ; 
but  if  we  acl:  by  feveral  broken  views,  and  v/ill  not  only  be 
virtuous,  but  wealthy,  popular,  and  every  thing  that  has  a  value 
fet  upon  it  by  the  world,  we  fhall  live  and  die  in  mifery  and 
repentance. 

E  N  QU I  R IE  S  after  happinefs,  and  rules  for  attaining  it, 
are  not  fo  neceffary  and  ufefui  to  mankind,  as  the  arts  of  con- 
solation, and  fupporting  one's  feif  under  affliclion.  The  utmoit. 
we  can  hope  for,  in  this  world,  is  contentment  ;  if  we  aim  at 
any  thing  higher,    we  mall  meet  with  nothing  but  grief  and 

difappoint- 


(     161     ) 

difappointments.     A  man  mould  direcl  all  his  ftudies  and  en- 
deavours, at  making  himfelf  eafy  now,  and  happy  hereafter* 

I  T  is  of  the  laft  importance  to  feafon  the  pafTions  of  a  child 
with  devotion,  which  feldom  diet  in  a  mind  that  has  received 
an  early  tincture  of  it.  Tho'  it  may  feem  extinguished  for  a 
while  by  the  cares  of  the  world,  the  heats  cf  youth,  or  the  al- 
lurements of  vice,  it  generally  breaks  out,  and  difcovers  itfelf 
again  as  foon  as  difcretion,  confideration,  age,  or  misfortunes, 
have  brought  the  man  to  himfelf.  The  lire  may  he  covered 
and  overlaid,  but  cannot  be  entirely  quenched  and  fmothered. 

PURE  devotion  opens  the  mind  to  great  conceptions,  and 
fills  it  with  more  fublime  ideas,  than  any  that  are  to  be  met 
with  in  the  molt  exalted  feience  ;  and  at  the  fame  time  warms 
and  agitates  the  foul  more  than  fenfual  pleafure. 

I  T  is  of  unfpeakable  advantage  to  porTefs  our  minds  with 
an  habitual  good  intention,  and  to  aim  all  our  thoughts, 
words  and  actions,  at  the  fame  laudable  end,  the  glory  of  our 
Maker,  the  good  of  mankind,  and  the  benefit  of  our  own  fouls. 

SOCRATES,  on  the  day  of  his  execution,  a  little  be- 
fore the  draught  of  poifon  was  brought  to  him,  entertaining 
his  friends  with  a  difcourfe  on  the  immortality  of  the  foul,  has 
thefe  words :  "  Whether  or  no  God  will  approve  of  mv  actions, 
I  know  not  ;  but  this  I  am  fure  of,  that  I  have  at  all  times 
made  it  my  endeavour  to  pleafe  him  ;  and  I  have  a  good  hope, 
that  this  my  endeavour  .vill  be  accepted  by  him." 


H      Y     M 


WHEN  fifing  from  the  bed  of  death, 

O'erv/helm'd  with  guilt  and  fear, 
I  fee  my  Maker,  face  to  face, 

O  how  (hall  I  appear  ? 
If  yet,  while  pardon  may  be  found, 

And  mercy  may  be  fought, 

O  2  My 


(        1 62       } 

My  heart  with  inward  horror  fhrinks, 

And  trembles  at  the  thought. 
When  thou,  O  Lord !  malt  Hand  difclos'd, 

In  Majefty  fevere,    m 
And  fit  in  judgment  on  my  foul, 

Oh !  how  mall  I  appear  ? 
But  thou  haft  told  the  troubled  mind, 

Who  does  her  fins  lament, 
The  timely  tribute  of  her  tears, 

Shall  endlefs  woe  prevent. 
Then  fee  the  forrows  of  my  heart, 

Ere  yet  it  be  too  late, 
And  hear  my  Saviour's  dying  groans, 

To  give  thofe  forrows  weight. 
For  never  fhall  my  foul  defpair, 

Her  pardon  to  procure, 
Who  knows  thine  only  Son  has  dy'd, 

To  make  her  pardon  fure. 

SELF-LOVE  but  ferves  the  virtuous  mind  to  wake. 
As  the  fmall  pebble  ftirs  the  peaceful  lake, 
The  centre  mov'd,  a  circle  ftrait  fucceeds, 
Another  ftill,  and  ftill  another  fpreads  ; 
Friend,  parent,  neighbour,  firft  it  will  embrace, 
His  country  next,  and  next  all  human  race. 
Wide  and  more  wide,  th'  o'erflowings  of  the  mind 
Take  every  creature  in  of  every  kind. 
Earth  fmiles  around  with  boundlefs  bounty  bleft, 
And  Heav'a  beholds  its  image  in  his  breaft. 


I  T  may  be  laid  down  as  a  pofition,  which  will  feldom  de- 
rive, that  when  a  man  cannot  bear  his  own  company,  there 
is  fomething  wrong.  He  muft  fly  from  himfelf,  either  be- 
eaufe  he  feels  a  tedioufnefs  in  life  from  the  equipoife  of  an 
empty  mind,  which,  having  no  tendency  to  one  motion,  more 
than  another,  but  as  it  is  impelled  by  fome  external  power, 
muft  always  have  recourfe  to  foreign  objecls ;  or  he  muft  be 
afraid  of  the  intrufion  of  fome  unpleafing  ideas,  and  is,  per- 
haps, 


(     i63    ) 

haps,  ftruggling  to  efcape  from  the  remembrance  of  a  lofs, 
the  fear  of  a  calamity,  or  fome  other  thought  of  greater  horror. 

C  A  N  a  mortal  look  clown,  without  giddinefs  and  ftupe- 
faclion,  into  the  vaft  abyfs  of  eternal  wifdom  ?  Can  a  mind, 
that  fees  not  infinitely,  perfectly  comprehend  any  thing  among 
an  infinity  of  objects  mutually  relative  ?  Remember,  that  per- 
fect happinefs  cannot  be  conferred  on  a  creature,  for  perfect 
happinefs  is  an  attribute  as  incommunicable,  as  perfect  power 
and  eternity. 


Extract  from  Cowper's  Poem  called  the  Taik. 


-DETESTED  fport! 


That  owes  its  pleafures  to  another's  pains  ; 

That  feeds  upon  the  fobs  and  dying  fhrieks 

Of  harmlefs  nature  ;  dumb,  but  yet  endued. 

With  eloquence,  that  agonies  infpire, 

Of  filent  tears  and  heart  diftending  fighs. 

Vain  tears,  alas  !  and  fighs  that  feldom  find 

A  correfponding  tone  in  jovial  fouls. 

Well,  one  at  leaft  is  fafe  ;  one  (helter'd  hare 

Has  never  heard  the  fanguinary  yell 

Of  cruel  man  exulting  in  her  woes. 

Innocent  part'ner  of  my  peaceful  home, 

Whom  ten  long  year's  experience  of  my  care 

Has  made  at  laft  familiar,  (he  has  loft 

Much  of  her  vigilant,  inftinctive  dread, 

Not  needful  here  beneath  a  roof  like  mine. 

Yes,  thou  may 'ft  eat  thy  bread,  and  lick  the  hand 

That  feeds  thee  ;  thou  may 'ft  frolic  on  the  floor 

At  ev'ning,  and  at  night  retire  fecure 

To  thy  draw  couch,  and  (lumber  unalarm'd, 

For  I  have  gain'd  thy  confidence,  and  pledg'd 

All  that  is  human  in  me,  to  protect 

Thine  unfufpecting  gratitude  and  love. 

If  I  furvive  thee,  I  will  dig  thy  grave, 

And  when  I  place  thee  in  it,  fighing  fay, 

I  knew  at  leaft  one  hare  that  had  a  friend. 

CRUEL 


(     1 64    ) 

CRUEL  fports,  were  thought  very  high  reflections  on  the 
politenefs  of  the  Romans.  Are  they  not  much  greater  on  the 
mercy  and  humanity  of  Chriftians  ? 

I  T  behoves  us  to  accuftom  ourfelves  to  a  fober,  modeft  way 
of  fpeaking,  and  to  avoid  all  thofe  modes  of  fpeech,  which 
border  upon,  or  naturally  lead  to  falfhood. 

B  E  careful  to  practife  nothing  which  you  are  aihamed  of ; 
to  do  nothing  for  which  you  need  be  afraid  of  the  eye  or  ear 
of  God,  and  the  world,  then  will  you  be  under  no  temptation 
of  lying,  to  conceal  what  you  have  done  amifs. 

I  F  we  had  true  notions  of  God,  and  eternity,  right  notions 
of  ourfelves,  and  of  the  world,  they  could  not  fail  to  create  in 
us  thoughts  full  of  humility  towards  ourfelves,  full  of  contempt 
towards  the  vain  world,  full  of  the  higheit.  adoration  towards 
God,  and  full  of  earneftnefs  to  acquire  a  happy  eternity. 

PR  A  Y  E  R,  unaccompanied  with  a  fervent  love  of  God,  is 
like  a  lamp  unlighted  ;  the  words  of  the  one,  without  love, 
being  asmnprofitable  as  the  oil  and  cotton  of  the  other,  with- 
out flame. 

H  E  alone  is  a  great  man,  whofe  heart  is  ftrongly  difpofed 
to  acts  of  humanity  and  benevolence ;  and  who  has  fortitude 
enough  to  do  his  duty  in  all  circumftances  of  life ;  who  adts 
for  the  good  of  mankind,  as  long  as  he  is  able,  and  then  finifhes 
his  courfe  in  the  caufe  of  virtue. 

THE  way  to  avoid  prejudice,  is  to  govern  the  pafiions  with 
a  fteady  hand  ;  to  treat  all  things,  in  a  calm  and  difinterefted 
manner,  not  fuffering  our  deflres  or  averfions  to  be  moved,  but 
by  a  juft  connderation  of  real  ufefulnefs. 

..«>..  ..«>"O><s><SxSxS><$5>-0-  ..<►.. 

TAKE  but  the  humbleft  lilly  of  the  field, 
And  if  our  pride  will  to  our  reafon  yield, 
It  muft  by  fure  comparifon  be  fhewn, 
That  on  the  regal  feat  great  David's  fon,  Array 'd 


(     i6S    ) 

Array 'd  In  all  his  robes  and  types  of  pow'r, 
Shines  with  lefs  glory,  than  that  fimple  flow'r. 

ENOUGH  I  think  my  prefent  ftore, 
Nor  do  I  afk  of  Heav'n  for  more, 
But  thank  the  kindnefs  of  my  God, 
For  that  Anall  dock  he  has  allow 'd. 
Lo  time  dill  wades,  and  wades  away, 
And  moons  arife  but  to  decay  ; 
Then  why,  fond  mortals,  tell  me  why! 
Ye  raife  your  sodly  domes  fo  high  ? 
Why  build  ye  palaces  fo  great, 
With  all  th*  extravagance  of  date, 
When  ev'ry  done  mud  fall  away, 
And  crumble  dill,  and  dill  decay  ? 
Why  drive  ye  to  enrich  ye  more, 
With  ware  from  every  foreign  more, 
When  death  dands  knocking  at  your  door  ? 


PRAYER. 

THERE  is  fuch  a  thing  as  converfe  with  God  in  prayer* 
and  it  is  the  life  and  pleafure  of  a  pious  foul ;  without  it  we  are 
no  Chridians,  and  he  that  practifcs  it  mod,  is  the  bed  follower 
of  Chrid  ;  for  our  Lord  {pent  much  time  in  converfe  with  his 
Heavenly  Father.  This  is  balm  that  eafes  the  mod  raging 
pains  of  the  mind,  when  the  wounded  confcience  comes  to  the> 
mercv-feat,  and  fifids  pardon  and  peace  there.  This  is  the  cor- 
dial that  revives  and  exalts  our  natures,  when  the  fpirit,  bro- 
ken with  forrows,  and  almoft  fainting  to  death,  draws  near 
to  the  Almighty  phydcian,  and  is  healed  and  refremed. 

THE  mercy-feat  in  Heaven  is  our  fured  and  fweeted  refuge 
in  every  hour  of  didrefs  and  darknefs  upon  earth  ;  this  is  our 
daily  fupport  and  relief,  while  wre  are  palling  through  a  world 
of  temptations  and  hardfhips,  in  the  way  to  the  promifed  land* 
M  1^  is  good  to  draw  near  to  God." 

THE 


(     1 66    ) 

THE  Creator  is  to  be  firft  loved  for  his  own  fake,  for  his 
infinite  goodnefs  and  perfection,  and  then  the  creature,  as  his 
work,  and  in  proportion  to  its  refemblance  to  him. 

H  E  that  thinks  twice  before  he  fpeaks  once,  will  fpeak 
twice  the  better  for  it. 


W  HEN  in  thy  i  acred  pre  fence,  Lord  !  I  bow, 
Let  true  devotion  in  my  bofom  glow  ; 
There,  with  the  {^nfe  of  thy  great  goodnefs  fraught, 
May  I  with  care  correct  each  wandering  thought ; 
Drink  at  my  ears  the  preacher's  Heav'nly  lore, 
And  ftill  the  more  I  hear,  improve  the  more  ; 
Make  this  fhort  life  an  earner!  of  the  next, 
And  all  my  acls  a  comment  on  thy  text. 

On  the  Vanity  of  Riches. 

S  E  E  S  T  thou,  fond  youth,  yon  precipice  on  high, 
Rob'd  by  the  clouds,  and  turban'd  by  the  iky, 
How  lowering  darkly  o;er  the  fhadow'd  plains, 
It  itrikes  wild  terror  thro'  the  gazing  fwains  r 
Its  craggv  fides  can  boaft  no  fertile  foil, 
No  promis'd  harveft  tempts  a  rural  toil  ; 
No  grazing  cattle  find  their  pafture  there, 
Nor  fragrant  flowers  perfume  the  ambient  air  ; 
No  fweet-meand'ring  current  glides  along, 
Courting  the  meadows  with  its  murm'ring  fong  ; 
No  fhadv  bow'rs  adorn  its  barren  fides, 
Nor  fair  enclofure  its  rough  ground  divides  ; 
No  lofty  fpires  a  wond 'ring  glance  invite, 
Nor  artful  gardens  tempt  the  diflant  fight. 
All  rough  and  wild,  it  rears  its  rocky  head, 
And  ftrikes  the  wond'ring  eye  with  awful  dread. 
From  its  high  top  impetuous  torrents  flow, 
Form'dhy  diffolving  tracls  of  native  fnow  ; 
Sorrow  fits  brooding  on  its  furrow 'd  face, 
And  defolation  triumphs  o'er  the  place. 


Seeft 


(     i«7     ) 

Seeft  thou  all  this,  fond  mortal  ?     Think,  if  fo, 
Thou  feefb  the  blifs  the  vain  ambitious  know. 
Such  are  the  barren  pleafures  they  enjoy, 
For  this  alone  whole  ages  they  employ. 
Thev  move  our  pity,  thV  they  tempt   our  fight, 
High  above  all,  but  wretched  by  their  height. 


THE  prince  of  peace — He  firil  reconciled  God  to  man, 
and  then  endeavoured  to  reconcile  men  to  each  other.  When  he 
came  into  the  world,  he,  by  his  angels,  proclaimed  peace  ;  and 
when  he  left  the  world,  he  bequeathed  the  fame  as  his  legacy  : 
"  Peace  I  leave  with  you,"  &c. 

THE  merciful  man  will  extend  his  hand  of  relief  and  com- 
fort, as  far  as  he  may,  to  his  fellow-creatures,  whether  they 
labour  under  temporal  or  fpiritual  diftrefs,  whether  they  call 
for  his  pity  from  their  fins  or  from  their  forrows  ;  while,  in 
every  relation  of  life,  he  will  exercife  this  Heavenly  temper  : 
As  a  magiftrate,  gentle  and  humane,  however  compelled,  in 
certain  cafes,  to  be  ieverely  juft  :  As  a  creditor,  mild  and  for- 
bearing, not  riving  nattily  and  vigoroufly  to  the  utmoit  ex- 
tremity, much  lets  condemning  the  unhappy  debtor  to  im- 
prifonment,  which  may  utterly  incapacitate  from  all  power  and 
hope  of  payment ;  and  in  fhort,  in  every  cafe  exercifmg  that 
lenity,  mildnefs,  forgivenefs,  and  mercy,  whereof  the  eternal 
God  hath  fet  us  fo  bright  an  example  ;  and  all  our  expectation 
of  which  from  him,  he  hath  made  to  depend  on  our  (hewing 
the  fame  to  others :  <(  Bleffed  are  the  merciful,  for  they  fhaJI 
obtain  mercv." 


-Y  E  good  dittrefs'd, 


Ye  noble  few  ! — who  here  unbending  ftand 

Beneath  life's  prefture,  yet  bear  up  a  while, 

And  what  your  bounded  view,  which  only  faw 

A  little  part,  deem'd  evil,  is  no  more ; 

The  ftorms  of  wintry  time  will  quickly  pafj, 

And  one  unbounded  fpring  encircle  all.  On 


(     1 68     ) 

Cn  the  Nativity  of  Chrift. 

A  WAKE   from  filence  every  voice, 

Each  chearful  pipe  and  founding  firing  ; 
Let  ev'ry  grateful  heart  rejoice, 

And  ev'ry  tongue  in  rapture  fmg. 
On  this  diitinguilh'd  day  of  grace 

Tb/  eternal  Prince  of  glory  came, 
To  purge  the  guilt  of  human  race, 

And  fave  them  by  his  pow'rful  name. 
Bow  down  your  heads,  ye  lofty  pines, 

Ye  mountains  crown'd  with  cedars  tall; 
Be  fill,  ye  rude,  imperious  winds, 

Throughout  the  wide  terreftrial  ball. 
Let  nought  but  harmony  and  love 

O'er  all  th'  expanded  furface  reign, 
And  let  the  facred  choir  above 

Approve,  and  join  the  Heav'nly  ftrain. 
Wheti  we  in  bondage  wereexil'd, 

And  rebels  to  th'  eternal  God, 
Our  fouls,  with  blackeft  guilt  defil'd, 

Obnoxious  to  th'  impending  red  ; 
That  from  his  feat  of  perfect  Wife 

The  Son  of  glory  ihou'd  defcend, 
To  offer  man  the  terms  of  peace, 

And  his  unbounded  grace  extend. 
Such  goodnefs,  fuch  ftupendous  grace  ! 

Nor  men,  nor  angels  can  explore  ; 
Then  let  us,  what  we  cannot  trace, 

With  awful  reverence  adore. 
Ye  wing'd  inhabitants  of  air, 

AH  ye  that  graze  the  verdant  plain  : 
Ye  herds,  that  to  the  wilds  repair, 

And  ye  that  fkim  the  furging  main, 
Some  figns  of  exultation  mow,  j 

While  grateful  minds  your  voices  raife, 
'Tis  all  that  mortals  can  below, 

To  hail  the  day  in  fongs  of  praife. 
While  fkilful  hands  the  chorus  join, 

And  tune  tlie  rapture- railing  lyre, 

While 


(     1 69    ) 

While  grateful  {trains  of  love  divine, 

Serene,  extatic  joys  infpire. 
Thus  facred  be  the  happy  day, 

While  fun,  and  moon,  and  ftars  endure ; 
Till  nature  feels  her  laft  decay, 

And  time  itfelf  fhall  be  no  more. 


LET  us  entertain  a  general  good  opinion  of  all  men,  till 
unquelHonable  evidence  fhall  oblige  us  to  give  up  that  good 
opinion  ;  yet,  at  the  fame  time,  let  us  be  cautious  not  to  furrer 
our  good  opinion  to  betray  us  into  any  improper  compliances 
or  connexions. 

SELL  not  your  hopes  of  Heavenly  treafures,  nor  any  thing 
that  belongs  to  your  eternal  intereft,  for  any  of  the  advantages 
of  the  prefent  life  :  "  What  fhall  it  profit  a  man,  to  gain  the 
whole  world,  and  lofe  his  own  foul  I" 

T  O  pietv  join  modefty  and  docility,  reverence  of  your  pa- 
rents, and  fubmiifion  to  thofe  who  are  your  fuperiors  in  know- 
ledge, in  ftation,  and  in  years.  Dependence  and  obedience 
belong  to  youth.  Modefty  is  one  of  its  chief  ornaments  ;  and 
has  ever  been  efteemed  a  prefage  of  riling  merit. 

PROVIDENCE  never  intended,  that  any  irate  here 
mould  be  either  completely  happy,  or  entirely  miferable.  If 
the  feelings  of  pleafure  are  more  numerous,  and  more  lively, 
in  the  higher  departments  of  life,  fuch  alfo  are  thofe  of  pain. 
If  greatnefs  flatters  our  vanity,  it  multiplies  our  dangers.  If 
opulence  encreafes  our  gratifications,  it  encreafes,  in  the  fame 
proportion,  our  defires  and  demands,  If  the  poor  are  confined 
to  a  more  narrow  circle,  yet,  within  that  circle,  lie  moil 
of  thofe  natural  fatisfactions,  which,  after  all  the  refinements 
of  art,  are  found  to  be  the  raoft  genuine  and  true, 

W  E  have  feen,  that  inordinate  paiTions  are  the  great  difturb- 
ers  of  life  ;  and  that,  unlefs  we  polTefs  a  good  conference,  and 
a  well  governed  mind,  difcontent  will  Haft  every  enjovrnent, 
P  '  'and 


(    i;o    ) 

and  the  higheft  profperity  will  prove  only  difguifed  miiery. 
Fix  then  this  concluiion  in  your  mind,  that  the  deftruftion  of 
your  virtue,  is  the  deitrnftion  of  your  peace.  (<  For  our  re- 
joicing is  this,  the  teftimony  of  our  confcience,  that  in  fimpli- 
city,  and  godly  fmcerity,  not  with  fleftily  wifdom,  but  by  the 
grace  of  God,  we  have  had  our  converfation  in  the  world^  and 
more  abundantly  to  you-wards."     2  Cor.  i.   12. 

Caution  againft  Pride. 

CONSIDER  what  you  mall  be.  Your  fiefh  returns  to 
corruption  and  common  earth  again  ;  nor  mall  your  dull  be  dis- 
tinguished from  the  meaneft  beggar  or  Have  ;  no,  nor  from  the 
dull  of  brutes  and  infe<fts,  or  the  moll  contemptible  of  crea- 
tures ;  and  as  for  your  fouls,  they  muii  Hand  before  God,  in 
the  world  of  fpirits,  on  a  level  with  the  reft  of  mankind,  and  di- 
verged of  all  your  haughty  and  flattering  circumftances.  None 
of  your  vain  diftinftions  in  this  life,  fhall  attend  you  to  the 
judgment-feat.  Keep  this  tribunal  in  view,  and  pride  will 
wither,  and  hang  down  its  head. 

MONEY,  like  manure,  does  no  good,  till  it  is  fpread ; 
there  is  no  real  ufe  of  riches,  except  in  the  diltribution  ;  the 
reft  is  all  conceit. 


B  Y  love  directed,  and  in  mercy  meant, 
Are  trials  fufferd,  and  afflictions  fent. 
To  ftem  impetuous  paiTion's  furious  tide  ; 
To  curb  the  infolence  of  profp'rous  pride  ; 
To  wean  from  earth,  and  bid  our  wifhes  foar 
To  that  bleft  clime,  where  pain  mail  be  no  more, 
Where  wearied  virtue  fhall  for  refuge  fly, 
And  every  tear  be  wip'd  from  ev'ry  eye. 


HAPPY  are  they  who  preferve  their  innocence  unfullied 
bv  anv  great  or  wilful  crimes,  and  who  have  only  the  common 
failings  of  humanity  to  repent  of;  thefe  are  fufficiently  mor- 
tifying to  a  heart  deeply  fmitten  with  the  love  of  virtue,  and 
with  the  defire  of  perfection.  _"  W  HAT- 


(     i7<     ) 

"WHATSOEVER  ye  would  that  men  mould  do  un- 
to you,  even  fo  do  unto  them."  There  is  no  occafion,  great 
or  fmall,  on  which  you  may  not  fafely  apply  this  rule  for  the 
direction  of  your  conduct ;  and,  w  hi  1ft  your  heart  honerlly  ad- 
heres to  it,  you  can  never  be  guilty  of  any  fort  of  injuilice  or 
unkindnefs. 

ENDEAVOUR  to  acquire  a  temper  of  univerfal  can- 
dour and  benevolence  ;  and  learn  neither  to  defpife  nor  con- 
demn any  perfons  on  account  of  their  particular  modes  of  faith 
and  worihip  ;  remembering,  alwavs,  that  goodnefs  is  confined 
to  no  party — that  there  are  wife  and  worthy  men  among  all 
the  fedts  of  Chriitians — and  that  to  his  own  mailer,  every  one 
muft  fland  or  fall. 

VIRTUE  is  the  foundation  of  honour  and  efteem,  and 
the  fource  of  all  beauty,  order,  and  bappinefs,  in  nature. 

BEAUTY  and  wit  will  die,  learning  will  vanifh  away, 
and  all  the  arts  of  life  be  foon  forgot ;  but  virtue  will  remain 
forever.  ^ 

A  GOOD  word  is  an  eafy  obligation  ;  but  not  to  fpeak 
ill,  requires  only  our  filence,  which  coils  us  nothing. 


The  Fire-Side. 

I. 
DEAR  Chloe,  while  the  bu fy  crowd, 
The  vain,  the  wealthy,  and  the  proud, 

In  folly's  maze  advance  : 
Tho'  fingularity  and  pride 
Be  call'd  our  choice,  we'll  ftep  afide, 

Nor  join  the  giddy  dance. 

IT. 
From  the  gay  world  we'll  oft  retire, 
To  our  own  family  and  tire, 
Where  love  cur  hours  employs: 

No 


(    *lz   }■ 

No  noify  neighbours  enter  here, 

No  intermeddling  ftranger  near, 

To  fpoil  our  heart- felt  joys. 

III. 
If  folic!  happinefs  we  prize, 
Within  our  breads  this  jewel  lies ; 

And  they  are  fools  who  roam  : 
The  world  has  nothing  to  beftow, 
From  our  own  felves  our  joys  muil  flow, 

And  that  dear  hut  our  home. 

IV. 

Cf  red  was  Noah's  dove  bereft, 
Wften,  with  impatient  wing,  fhe  left 

That  fafe  retreat,  the  ark  : 
Giving  her  vain  excurfion  o'er, 
The  difappointed  bird  once  more 

Explored  the  facred  bark. 

V. 
Tho'  fools  fpurn  Hymen's  gentle  pow'rs, 
We  who  improve  his  golden  hours, 

By  fweet  experience  know, 
That  marriage,  rightly  understood, 
Gives  to  the  tender,  and  the  good, 

A  paradife  below. 

VI. 

Cur  babes  fhall  richer!:  comforts  bring ; 
If  tutor'd  right,  they'll  prove  afpring 

Whence  pleafures  ever  rife  : 
We'll  form  their  minds  with  ftudious  care, 
To  all  that's  manly,  good  and  fair, 

And  train  them  for  the  fkies. 

VII. 

While  they  our  wifeil  hours  engage, 
They'll  joy  our  youth,  fupport  our  age, 

And  crown  our  hoary  hairs  : 
They'll  grow  in  virtue  every  day, 
And  thus  our  fondeft  loves  repay, 

And  recompence  our  cares. 


No 


(     *?3     ) 

VIII. 
No  borrow  *d  joys,  they're  all  our  own, 
While  to  the  world  we  live  unknown, 

Or  bv  the  world  forgot  ; 
Monarchs !  we  envr  not  your  ftate  ; 
We  look  with  pity  on  the  great, 

And  blefs  our  humble  lot. 

IX. 

Our  portion  is  not  large  indeed, 
But  then  how  little  do  we  need, 

For  nature's  calls  are  few : 
In  this  the  art  of  living  lies, 
To  want  no  more  than  may  fuffice, 

And  make  that  little  do. 

X. 

We'll,  therefore,  relifh  with  content, 
Whate'er  kind  Providence  has  fent, 

Xor  aim  beyond  cur  pow'r  : 
For  if  our  ftock  be  very  (mall* 
'Tis  prudence  to  enjoy  it  all, 

Nor  lofe  the  prefent  hour. 

XI. 

To  be  refign'd  when  ills  betide, 
Patient  when  favours  are  deny'd, 

And  pleas'd  with  favours  giv'n  : 
Dear  Chloe,  this  is  wifdom's  part, 
This  is  that  incenfe  of  the  heart, 

Whofe  fragrance  fineHa  to  Heav  n  ! 

XII. 
We'll  afk  no  long,  protracted  treat, 
(Since  winter-life  is  fekkm  fweet) 

But  when  our  feaft  is  o'er, 
Grateful  from  table  we'll  arife, 
Nor  grudge  our  fons,  with  envious  eves, 

The  relics  of  our  ft  ore. 

XIII. 

Thus  hand  in  hand,  thro'  life  we'll  go, 
Its  chequer'd  paths  of  joy  and  woe 
With  cautious  iteps  we'll  tread  ; 

P  Z  Qoil 


(  m  ) 

Quit  its  vain  fcenes  without  a  tear, 
Without  a  trouble,  or  a  fear, 
And  mingle  with  the  dead. 

XIV. 

While  confcience,  like  a  faithful  friend, 
Shall  through  the  gloomy  vale  attend, 

And  cheer  our  dying  breath  : 
Shall,  when  all  other  comforts  ceafe, 
Like  a  kind  angel  whifper  peace, 

And  fmooth  the  bed  of  death  ! 


SINCERITY  is  firm  and  fubftantial,  and  there  is  no- 
thing hollow  or  unfound  in  it ;  and  becaufe  it  is  plain  and  open, 
fears  no  difcovery  ;  of  which  the  crafty  man  is  always  in  dan- 
ger. 

PLUTARCH  has  written  an  efTay  on  the  benefits  which 
a  man  may  receive  from  his  enemies  ;  and  mentions  this  in 
particular,  "  that,  by  the  reproaches  caft  upon  us,  we  fee  the 
word  fide  of  ourfelves,  and  open  our  eyes  to  feveral  blemifhes  ' 
and  defecls  in  our  lives  and  converfations,  which  we  mould  not 
have  obferved  without  the  help  of  fuch  ill-natured  monitors.5' 

LET  us  "  keep  the  heart  with  all  diligence,  feeing  out  of  it 
are  the  ifiues  of  life."  Let  us  account  our  mind  the  moft  im- 
portant province  which  is  committed  to  our  care  ;  and  as  we 
cannot  rule  events,  fiudy  at  leait  to  rule  ourfelves. 

I  T  is  too  common  with  the  young,  even  when  they  refolve 
to  tread  the  path  of  virtue  and  honour,  to  fetout  with  prefump- 
tuous  conlidence  in  themfeives.  Trufting  to  their  own  abilities, 
for  carrying  them  fuccefsfully  through  life,  they  are  carelefs  of 
appl}ing  to  God,  or  of  deriving  any  aifiitance  from  what  they 
are  apt  to  reckon  the  gloomy  difcipline  of  religion.  Alas  ! 
how  little  do  they  know  the  dangers  which  await  them  I" 

Neither  human  wifdom,  nor  human  virtue,  unfupport- 
ed  by    religion,  are  equal  for  the  trying    fituations  which 

often 


(     '75    ) 

often  occur  in  life.  By  the  fhock  of  temptation,  how  fre- 
quently have  the  moft  virtuous  intentions  been  overthrown  ! 
Under  the  preffure  of  difafter,  how  often  has  the  greateft  con- 
flancy  funk  !  Deftitute  of  the  favour  of  God,  you  are  in  no  bet- 
ter fituation,  with  all  your  boafled  abilities,  than  orphans  left 
to  wander  in  a  tracklefs  defart,  without  any  guide  to  conduct 
them,  or  any  fhelter  to  cover  them  from  the  gathering  ftorm. 
Correct,  then,  this  ill-founded  arrogance.  Expect  not  that 
your  happinefs  can  be  independent  of  him  who  made  you.  By 
faith  and  repentance,  apply  to  the  Redeemer  of  the  world. 
By  piety  and  prayer,  feek  the  protection  of  the  God  of  Hea- 
ven. 

THE  cheerfulnefs  of  a  well-regulated  mind,  fprings  from 
a  good  confcience,  and  the  favour  of  Heaven,  and  is  bounded 
by  temperance  and  reafon.  It  makes  a  man  happy  in  himfelf, 
and  promotes  the  happinefs  of  all  around  him.  It  is  the  clear 
and  calm  funfhine  of  a  mind  illuminated  by  piety  and  virtue. 
It  crowns  all  other  good  difpoiitions,  and  comprehends  the  ge- 
neral effect  which  they  ought  to  produce  on  the  heart. 

L  E  T  no  man  rafhly  determine,  that  his  unwillingnefs  to 
be  pleafed,  is  a  proof  of  understanding,  unlefs  his  fuperiority 
appears  from  a  lefs  doubtful  evidence;  for  though  peevifhnefs 
may  fometimes  boail  its  defcent  from  learning  or  from  wit, 
it  is  much  oftener  of  bafe  extraction,  the  child  of  vanity  and 
nurfiing  of  ignorance. 

LET  the  virtuous  remember,  amidft  all  their  fuiFerings, 
that  though  the  heart  of  the  good  man  may  bleed,  even  to 
death,  he  will  never  feel  a  torment  equal  to  the  rendings  of 
remorfe. 

PLATO  being  told,  that  he  had  many  enemies  who  fpoke 
ill  of  him,  "  It  is  no  matter,  faid  he,  I  will  live  fo  that  none 
Ihall  believe  them."  Hearing,  at  another  time,  that  an  inti- 
mate friend  of  his  had  fpoken  detractingly  of  him,  <(  I  am  fure 
he  would  not  do  it,  fays  he,  if  he  had  net  fome  reafon  for  it." 
This  is  the  fureit,  as  well  as  the  nobleft  way,  of  drawing  the 
fang  out  of  a  reproach,  and  the  true  method  of  preparing  a 

man 


(  '76  ) 

man  for  that  great  and  only  relief  againft  the  pains  of  calumny, 
a  good  confcience. 

JUDGE  not  of  mankind  in  general  from  the  conduct  of 
a  few  individuals.  There  are  perfons  capable  of  alleviating 
all  our  cares  by  a  friendly  participation,  and  of  heightening 
every  fatisfaction  by  fharing  them.  Cultivate  an  acquaintance 
with  the  truly  defer ving,  and  the  painful  remembrance  of  in- 
gratitude will  foon  be  loft  in  the  reciprocal  endearments  of  fin- 
cere  friendihip. 

DOST  thou  afk  a  torch  to  difcover  the  brightnefs  of  the 
morning  ?  Doit  thou  appeal  to  argument  for  proofs  of  divine 
perfection  ?  Look  down  to  the  earth  on  which  thou  ftandeft,  and 
lift  up  thine  eye  to  the  worlds  that  roll  above  thee  :  Thou  be- 
holdeft  fplendour,  abundance  and  beauty ;  is  not  he  who  pro- 
duced them  mighty  ?  Thou  confidereft — is  not  he  who  formed 
thy  underftanding,  wife  ?  Thou  enjoyeft — is  not  he  who  gra- 
tifies thy  fenfes,  good  ?  Can  aught  have  limited  his  bounty, 
but  his  wifdom  ?  or  can  any  defects  be  therein  difcovered  by 
thy  fagacity  ? 

RELIGION  prefcribes  to  every  miferable  man,  the 
means  of  bettering  his  coadition  ;  it  (hews  him,  that  the  bear- 
ing of  his  afflictions  as  he  ought  to  do,  will  naturally  end 
in  the  removal  of  them  ;  it  makes  him  eafy  here,  becaufe  it  can 
make  him  happy  hereafter. 

A  CONTENTED  mind  is  the  greateft  blefiing  a  man 
can  enjoy  in  this  world  ;  and  if  in  the  prefent  life  his  happi- 
nefs  arifes  from  the  fubduing  of  his  defires,  it  will  arife  in  the 
next  from  the  gratification  of  them. 

EVERY  wife  man  will  confider  this  life  only  as  it  may 
conduce  to  the  happinefs  of  the  other,  and  cheerfully  facrifice 
the  pleafures  of  a  few  years  to  thofe  of  an  eternity. 

HOWEVER  far  fome  men  may  have  gone  in  the  fcience 
of  impartiality,  perhaps  there  is  not  one  of  them  but  would  be 
furprized,  if  he  could  be  ihewn  how  much  farther  he  might  go. 

THO' 


(     '77     ) 

THO'  poor  the  pcafant's  hut,  his  feafts  tho'  fmall, 
He  fees  his  little  lot,  the  lot  of  all ; 
Sees  no  contiguous  palace  rear  its  head, 
To  fhame  the  meannefs  of  his  humble  fried  ; 
No  coftly  lords  the  fumptuous  banquet  deal, 
To  make  him  loathe  his  vegetable  meal — 
But  calm,  and  bred  in  ignorance  and  toil, 
h  contracting,  fits  him  to  the  foil  ; 
Cheerful  at  morn  he  wakes  from  fhort  repofe, 
Breathes  the  keen  air,  and  carrols  as  he  goes ; 
With  patient  angle  trolls  the  finny  dtQip, 
Or  drives  his  vent'rous  plough-mare  to  the  fteep  ; 
Or  feeks  the  den,  where  fnow-tracks  mark  the  way 
And  drags  the  itxuggling  favage  into  day. 
At  night  returning,  every  labour  fped, 
Ke  fits  him  down,  the  monarch  of  a  fhed  ; 
Smiles  by  his  cheerful  fire,  and  round  furvevs 
His  childrens  looks,  that  brighten  at  the  blaze; 
While  his  lov'd  partner,  boaftful  of  her  hoard, 
Difplays  the  cleanly  platter  on  the  board. 


EVERY  ftation  of  life  has  duties,  which  are  proper  to  it. 
Thofe  who  are  determined,  by  choice,  to  any  particular  kind 
of  bufinefs,  are  indeed  more  happy  than  thofe  who  are  deter- 
mined by  neceffity ;  but  both  are  under  an  equal  obligation  of 
fixing  on  employments,  which  may  be  either  ufeful  to  them- 
felves,  or  beneficial  to  others. 

N  O  one  of  the  fons  of  Adam,  ought  to  think  himfelf  ex- 
empt from  that  labour  and  induitrv,  which  were  denounced 
upon  our  firft  parent,  and  in  him,  to  all  hi>  polterity.  Thofe 
to  whom  birth  or  affluence  may  feem  to  make  fuch  an  appli- 
cation unneceiTary,  ought  to  find  out  fome  calling  or  profef- 
fion  for  themfelves,  that  they  may  not  lie  as  a  burden  on  the 
fpecies,  and  be  the  only  ufelefs  parts  of  the  creation. 

IT  fometimes  happens,  that  too  clofe  an  attention  to  minute 
exactnefs,  or  a  too  rigorous  examination  of  every  thing,  by 

the 


(    i?s    ) 

the  ftandard  of  perfection,  vitiates  the  temper,  rather 
improves  the  underftanding,  and  teaches  the  mind  to  difcern 
faults  with  unhappy  penetration.  It  is  incident,  likewife,  to 
men  of  vigorous  imaginations,  to  pleafe  themfelves  too  much 
with  futurities,  and  to  fret,  becaufe  thofe  expectations  are  dif- 
appointed,  which  mould  never  have  been  formed. 

KNOW  LED  GE  and  genius  are  often  enemies  to  quiet, 
by  fuggefting  ideas  of  excellence,  to  which  men,  and  the  per- 
formances of  men,  cannot  attain. 

W  E  mould  always  act  with  great  cautioufnefs  and  circum- 
fpeclion,  in  points  where  it  is  net  impouTble  that  we  may  be 
deceived. 


L  E  T  no  fond  love  of  earth  exact  a  flgh, 

No  doubt  divert  our  Heady  iteps  afide, 
Nor  let  us  long  to  live,  or  dread  to  die, 

Heav'n  is  our  hope,  and  Providence  our  guide. 

A  Thought  on  waking. 

SLEEP  by  night,  and  cares  by  day, 
Bear  my  fleeting  life  away  : 
Lo  !  in  yonder  eailem  ikies, 
Sol  appears,  and  bids  me  rife  : 
Tells  me,  <f  life  is  on  the  wing, 
And  has  no  returning  fpring  : 
Death  comes  on  with  fteady  pace 
And  life's  the  only  day  of  grace." 
Shining  preacher  !  happy  morning  ! 
Let  me  take  th'  important  warning  ; 
Roufe  then  all  my  active  pow'rs, 
Well  improve  the  coming  hours  ; 
Let  no  trifles  kill  the  day, 
(Trifles  oft  our  hearts  betray.) 
Virtue,  fcience,  knowledge,  truth, 
Guide  th'  enquiries  cf  my  youth. 
Wifdom,  and  experience  fage* 

Then 


(     i?9    ) 

Then  fhall  foothe  the  cares  of  age  ; 
Thofe  with  time  fhall  never  die, 
Thofe  will  lead  to  joys  on  high  ; 
Thofe  the  path  of  life  difplay, 
Shining  with  celeilial  day  ; 
Blifsful  path  !  with  fafety  trod, 
As  it  leads  the  foul  to  God. 

ON     HAPPINESS. 

LONG  have  I  fought  the  wifh  of  all, 

True  happinefs  to  find, 
Which  fome  will  wealth,  fome  pleafure  call, 

And  fome  a  virtuous  mind. 
Sufficient  wealth,  to  keep  away 

Of  want  the  doleful  fcene, 
And  joy  enough  to  gild  the  day, 

And  make  life's  courfe  ferene. 
Virtue  enough  to  afk  my  heart, 

Art  thou  fecure  within  ? 
Haft  thou  perform'd  an  honeft  part  ? 

Hail  thou  no  private  fin  ? 
This  to  perform,  thefe  things  poffefs, 

Muft  raife  a  noble  joy, 
Mud  conftitute  that  happinefs, 

Which  nothing  can  deftroy. 

O!  THOU,  whofe  pow'r  o'er  moving  worlds  prefides, 
Whofe  voice  created,  and  whofe  wifdom  guides, 
On  darkling  man,  with  fond  effulgence  fhme, 
And  cheer  the  clouded  mind  with  light  divine. 
'Tis  thine  alone  to  calm  the  pious  breafl, 
With  filent  confidence  and  holy  reft  ; 
From  thee,  great  God  !  wre  fpring,  to  thee  we  tend, 
Path,  motive,  guide,  original  and  end. 


I T  was  a  common  faying  among  the  Heathens,  that  the 
wife  man  hates  nobody,  but  only  loves  &e  virtuous.  The 
Chriftian  owe3  a  more  general  love. 

A 


(     1 8o     ) 
A  Thought  on  Death. 

DEATH,  to  a  good  man,  is  but  palling  through  a  dark 
entry,  out  of  one  little  duiky  room  of  his  father's  houfe,  into 
another,  that  is  fair  and  large,  lightfome,  glorious  and  di- 
vinely entertaining. 

THERE  is  nothing  of  greater  importance  to  us,  than  to  fift 
our  thoughts,  and  examine  all  the  dark  receffes  of  the  mind,  if 
we  would  eflablifh  our  fouls  in  fuch  a  folid  and  fubftantial 
virtue,  as  will  turn  to  account  in  that  great  day,  when  it  muft 
Hand  the  teft  of  infinite  wifdom  and  juitice. 

ALL  the  real  pleafures  and  conveniences  of  life,  lie  in  a 
narrow  compafs  ;  but  it  is  the  humour  of  mankind,  to  be  al- 
wavs  looking  forward,  and  {training  after  thofe  who  have  got 
the  itart  of  them  in  wealth  and  honour. 

A  Good  confcience  is  to  the  foul,  what  health  is  to  the  body; 
it  preferves  a  conflant  eafe  and  ferenity  within  us,  and  more 
than  countervails  all  the  calamities  and  afflictions  which  can 
[y  befal  us.  I  know  nothing  fo  hard  for  a  generous  mind 
to  get  over,  as  calumny  and  reproach  ;  and  cannot  find  any 
method  of  quieting  the  foul  under  them,  befides  this  fingle  one, 
of  our  being  confcious  to  ourielves,  that  we  do  not  deferve 
them. 


>...>..  ..«>..< 


The  Rural  Scene. 

SWEET  contemplation  to  purfue, 
Behold  a  rural  Fcene  in  view, 
The  bleating  herds,  the  lowing  kine, 
The  fp reading  oak,  the  tow' ring  pine  ; 
The  air,  from  noxious  vapours  free, 
Whilft  fquirrels  trip  from  tree  to  tree, 
And  the  fweet  fongiters  hover  round, 
Fruit,  herbs  and  fiow'rs,  enrich  the  ground, 
And  each  their  various  fruits  produce, 
Some  for  delight,  and  fome  for  ufe. 

Behold, 


(      I  Si     ) 

Behold,  O!  youth,   this  fcene,   and  fee 
What  nature's  God  hath  given  to  thee. 
With  wonder  view  his  great  cefigns, 
In  which  fuperior  wifdom  fhines ; 
Revere  his  name,  admire  his  love, 
And  raife  thy  thoughts  to  worlds  above. 


To  the   Poor. 

THE  Providence  of  Almighty  God,  has  placed  you  under 
difficult  circumftances  of  life,  and  daily  reads  you  a  leiTon  in 
a  more  particular  manner  to  depend  upon  him.  This  you 
may  be  allured  of  for  your  comfort,  that  you  are  under  God's 
conftant  and  immediate  care  :  And  one  advantage  you  enjoy 
above  the  rich,  in  your  journey  to  Heaven,  is,  that  you  are  not 
clogged  and  hindered  in  your  courfe  thither,  by  thole  manifold 
incumbrances  which  lie  on  them ;  of  whom  our  Saviour  hath 
faid,  "  That  it  is  very  hard  for  them  to  enter  into  the  king- 
dom of  Heaven.'3  Their  temptations  are  proportioned  to  their 
abundance  ;  their  cares  are  more  and  their  difiraalons  greater  ; 
fo  that  you  have  no  reafon  to  envy  them,  nor  repine  at  your 
own  condition  :   and  thefe  are  . .dons,    and 

againft  thefe  you  mud  be  more  particularly  watchful.  Cer- 
tainly, if  you  confider  things  aright,  you  will  find  that  your 
ftore-houie  is  the  moil  fare,  your  fupply  moft  certain  ;  for  you 
are  immediately  in  the  hands  of  God,  of  him  who  feedeth  the 
ravens,  and  cloatheth  the  grafs  of  the  field  ;  fo  that  you 
V>e  much  more  allured  that  he  will  cloathe  you.  En 
be  humble,  holy,  Heavenly  minded  ;  memberingj  that 

he  is  the  pooreit  man,  who  is  poor  in  grace,  Your  Saviour 
had  not  where  to  lay  his  head ;  fet  bis  example  ferve  to  recon- 
cile your  low  condition  to  you  ;  and  let  your  religious  beha- 
viour under  it,  be  the  means  to  fanctifv  it. 

Vn  H  E  R  E  V  E  R   we  turn  our  eves,  we  find  fome  thing 
ive  our  curioiity,  and  ttention.      I 

of  the  morning,  we  watch  i  e  day 

-  ,  and   op-n  new  profpe&s  ki  its  gi 


(        *82       ) 

advance.  After  a  few  hours,  we  fee  the  fhades  lengthen,  and 
the  light  decline,  till  the  Iky  is  refigned  to  a  multitude  of  fhin- 
ing  orbs,  different  from  each  other  in  magnitude  and  fplendour. 
The  earth  varies  its  appearance,  as  we  move  upon  it;  the 
woods  offer  their  fhades,  and  the  fields  their  harveils ;  the  hill 
flatters  with  an  extenfive  view,  and  the  valley  invites  with  fhel- 
ter,  fragrance  and  flowers. 


LET  not  the  curious  from  your  bofom  ileal 
Secrets,  where  prudence  ought  to  fet  her  feal  ; 
Yet  be  fo  frank  and  plain,  that  at  one  view, 
In  other  things,  each  man  may  fee  you  thro*. 

G  O  D  of  my  foul  !  without  thy  ftrength'ning  grace, 
How  weak,  how  poor,  how  blind,  is  human  race  ! 
To  found  thy  praife,  ten  thoufand  worlds  agree, 
And  nature  lifts  the  grateful  fong  to  thee  ; 
To  thee,  with  awe,  the  brute  creation  bends, 
When  thunder  burfts,  or  ftormy  rain  defcends ; 
Obedient  to  thy  will,  the  roeks  and  trees 
Now  reft  in  fnow,  now  blefs  the  vernal  breeze  ; 
Yet  man,  prefuming  on  his  glimmering  fenfe, 
Rafh  man  alone  difclaims  thy  Providence ; 
The  truths  he  dare  not  controvert,  denies, 
And  'gainft  conviction  fhuts  his  ears  and  eyes. 

OUR  follies,  when  difplay'd,  ourfelves  affright, 
Few  are  fo  bad,  to  bear  the  hideous  fight ; 
Mankind  in  herds,  thro'  force  of  cuftom  ftray, 
Miflead  each  other  into  error's  way, 
Purfue  the  road,  forgetful  of  the  end, 
Sin  by  miftake,  and  without  thought  offend. 


SHE  who  values  not  the  virtue  of  modefty  in  her  words  and 
drefs,  will  not  be  thought  to  fet  much  price  upon  it  in  her 
actions, 

I  N 


(     i83     ) 

I  N  cafe  of  temptation,  it  is  a  prudent  caution  to  avoid  the 
encounter,  when  we  are  confcious  ofweaknefs,  or  unable  to 
withftand  it. 

MOST  men  are  readv  enough  to  reckon  up  the  income  of 
their  eftates,  and  compute  how  it  will  anfwer  their  feveral  ex- 
pences  ;  but  few  employ  their  arithmetic  to  calculate  the  value 
and  income  of  their  life  and  time,  or  consider  how  they  maybe 
expended  to  the  beft  advantage.  In  thefe  the  beggar  has  as 
large  a  revenue  as  the  king,  though  they  are  juftly  accounted 
the  more  valuable  treafurc. 

THE  foul,  agitated  with  paflions,  fares  like  a  weak  bird 
in  a  ftormy  day  ;  fhe  is  not  able  to  make  a  ftraight  flight,  but  is 
tofled  from  the  track  fhe  would  purfue,  being  loft  and  carried 
in  the  air  at  the  pleafure  of  the  winds.  In  this  condition  is  the 
foul,  till,  by  a  conitant  meditation  on  God,  and  application  to 
him,  it  has  obtained  a  ftrong  and  vigorous  faith  to  hallaft  and 
ftrengthen  it,  and  enable  it  to  maintain  the  ftraight  and  fteady 
courfe  of  virtue. 


STILL  as  thro'  life's  meandring  path  I  ftray, 
Lord  !  be  the  fweet  companion  of  my  way  ; 
A  kind  conductor  to  the  bleft  abode 
Of  light,  of  life,  of  happinefs  and  God. 

RELIGION'S  facred  lamp  alone 

Unerring,  points  the  way, 
Where  happinefs  forever  mines 

With  unpolluted  ray. 

Written  on  a  Watch. 

WERE   but  our  minds,  like  this  machine, 

Unmov'd  by  pafTion,  or  by  fpleen, 

And,  true  to  nature's  guardian  pow'r, 

Could  mark,  with  goodnefs,  ev'ry  hour, 

Then  health  and  joy  would  follow  too, 

As  laws  of  thought  and  motion  do  ; 

Sweet  health  to  pafs  the  moments  o'er, 

And  joy  when  time  (hall  be  no  more.  .    'TIS 


(     i«4     ) 

?TI  S  a  contradiction  to  imagine,  that  reputation  or  praife  is 
a  fu  it  able  recompence  for  virtue  ;  fince  it  is  a  reward  that  no- 
thing but  vanity  can  make  acceptable  ;  it  declares  a  man  both 
foolifh  and  vicious,  that  can  be  pleafed  and  fatisfied  with  it  ^ 
and  that  his  merit  is  only  owing  to  his  pride 

TRUE  virtue,  as  it  has  no  other  aims  than  the  fervice  and 
honour  cf  God,  fo  the  leaf!  and  only  recompence  it  afpires  to. 
Is  his  approbation  and  favour. 

M  Y  God  !  my  all-fufficient  good  ! 

My  portion  and  my  choice ; 
In  thee  are  all  my  hopes  renewed, 

And  all  my  powers  rejoice . 

G  R  A  N  T  me  to  live,  and  if  I  live,  to  find 
The  dear  lov'd  portion  of  a  peaceful  mind  ; 
That  health,  that  fweet  content,  that  pleafing  red 
Which  God  alone  can  give,  as  fuits  me  bell. 

CHARITY. 

CHARITY,  decent,  modeft,  eafy,  kind, 
Softens  the  high,  and  rears  the  abjecl:  mind  ; 
Knows  with  juft  reins,  and  gentle  hand  to  guide. 
Betwixt  vile  lhame,  and  arbitrary  pride. 
Not  foon  provok'd,  fhe  ealily  forgives ; 
And  much  (he  fuffers,  as  fhe  much  believes ; 
Soft  peace  fhe  brings  wherever  fhe  arrives, 
She  builds  our  quiet,  as  fhe  forms  our  lives ; 
Lays  the  rough  paths  of  peevifh  nature  ev'n, 
And  opens  in  each  heart  a  little  Heav'n. 


THERE  is  no  prefervative  from  vice,  equal  to  an  habi- 
tual and  conftant  intercourfe  with  God  :  Neither  does  any  thing 
equally  alleviate  diftrefs,  or  heighten  profperity ;  in  diftrefs  it 
fuftains  us  with  hope,  and  in  profperity  it  adds  to  every  other 
enjoyment,  the  delight  of  gratitude.  I  N 


(    rf*   ) 

I  N  true  good  nature,  there  is  neither  the  acrimony  of  fpleen 
nor  the  fullennefs  of  malice  ;  it  is  neither  clamorous  nor  fret- 
ful, neither  eafy  to  be  offended,  nor  impatient  to  revenge  ;  it 
is  a  tender  fenfibility,  a  participation  of  the  pains  and  pleasures 
of  others,  and  is,  therefore,  a  forcible  and  conltant  motive, 
to  communicate  happinefs,  and  alleviate  mifcry. 

I  T  mould  be  a  general  rule,  never  to  utter  any  thing  in 
converfation,  which  would  juftly  difhonour  us  if  it  mould  be 
reported  to  the  world, 

TO  a  benevolent  difpofition,  every  fate  of  life  will  afford 
fome  opportunities  of  contributing  to  the  welfare  cf  man] 
Opulence  and  fplendour  are  enabled  to  difpei  the  cloud  of  ad- 
versity, to  dry  •:  ti,  and 
to  encreafe  the  felicity  of  all  around  them.  '\  heir  example  will 
animate  virtue,  and  retard  the  progrefs  of  vice.  And  even 
indigence  and  obfeurity,  tho'  without  power  to  confer  hap- 
pinefs, may  at  lean:  prevent  miferVj  and  apprize  thofe  who  are 
:  ;I  by  rheir  paiilons,  that  they  are  on  die  brink  of  irre- 
mediable calanTitv. 


OREPUTATICX!  dearer  far  than  life. 
Thou  pree;  c.  lovely  fweet  cf  fi 

hole  cordial  drops  once  fpilt  by  fom*  id. 

Not  all :  ]  s  care,  nor  g  coil 

Of  •  er  can  collect 

To  its  firft  parity  and  nati 

Solomon's  good  Wii  r.kd.    Proverbs,  3 ift  Chapter. 

THE  wife,  fo  whofe  fort,  faithf  lis 

ath  of  love  .  arne, 

As  much  in  w 

As  greateit  r 
On  her  the  partner  of  hei 

Can  ev'n  :  cf  war  d::^:^, 

Q^2  For 


(     156-    ) 

For  good,  not  ill,  from^ll  her  conduct  flows* 
The  wool  and  flax  employ  her  willing  hands, 

And  tho'  domeftic  arts  are%K)ft  her  care, 
Yet,  as  the  merchant-mip  from  diftant  lands 

Brings  precious  freight,  (he  brings  her  food  from  fax* 
E'er  light  fhe  forces  fleep's  foft  bands  to  yield, 

And  to  her  houfhold  gives  refreshment  due ; 
With  careful  earnings  purchafes  a  field, 

And,  ftill  more  wond'rous,  plants  a  vineyard  too* 
By  daily  ufe  her  arms  their  ftrength  encreafe — 

Her  merchandize  is  good,  fhe  gladly  finds  ; 
And  as  by  day  her  labours  rarely  ceafe, 

By  night  her  candle  unextinguifh'd  mines* 
Her  lib'ral  hand  extends  to  all  the  poor, 

Bellowing  alms  as  diff 'rent  wants  require  ; 
Nor  fears  her  houfhold  hardfhips  may  endure, 

For  they  in  fcarlet  bo  aft  a  rich  attire. 
To  cloathe  herfelf  fhe  weaves  gay  tapeftry, 

Purple  and  filk  the  labour  of  her  hand, 
With  which  bedeck 'd,  her  huiband  fits  on  high, 

Diftinguifh'd  'midft  the  elders  of  the  land. 
Fine  linen,  alfo,  by  her  art  is  made, 

And  girdles  ofter'd  to  the  merchant's  choice* 
While  ihe  in  ftrength  and  honour  well  array 'd, 

Thro'  times  to  come  fhall  happily  rejoice. 
The  law  of  kindnefs  in  her  heart  prefides, 

The  words  of  wifdom  from  her  lips  diltil, 
A  meek  difcretion  thro'  her  houfhold  guides, 

And  duteous  all  their  deftin'd  talk  fulfil. 
Her  children,  rifmg  up  with  grateful  voice, 

Pronounce  her  bleft,  as  love  or  prudence  fways^ 
Her  hufband,  confeious  of  his  happy  choice, 

With  pleafure  joins  their  voluntary  praife. 
Tho'  many  wives,  in  this  and  ages  paft, 

Of  virtuous  conducl  bright  examples  fhine, 
Yet  all  to  her,  thefirft  as  well  as  laft, 

The  palm  of  female  excellence  refign. 
True  as  when  fpoke,  remains  the  royal  word, 

ie  That  favour's  tranfient,  and  all  beauty  vain  ;M      / 
But  fhe  who  keeps  his  law,  and  fears  the  Lord,  , 

Shall  the  juft  tribute  of  applaufe  obtain,  WHEN 


(     >87     ) 

WHEN  we  confider  the  different  allotments  of  Providence 
to  his  creature  man,  in  this  ftate  of  exiitence,  and  compare  the 
wants  and  fufferings  of  fome,  with  the  eafe  and  affluence  of 
others,  we  mould  be  almoft  ready  to  conclude,  that  the  pre- 
ferving  care  of  our  Heavenly  Father,  was  not  equally  exten- 
ded to  all ;  though  he  has  afTured  us  in  fcripture,  that  he  is  no 
refpecler  of  perfons;  but  we  mutt  be  very  cautious  of  making 
fuch  an  inference ;  for  as  our  Great  Creator  fees  not  as  we 
fee,  and  has  a  view  in  all  his  difpenfations  to  the  ultimate  good 
of  his  creatures,  we  ought  rather  to  fuppofe,  that  the  particular 
condition  of  every  man,  fo  far  from  being  an  impeachment 
of  divine  impartiality,  is  alloted  him  in  perfect  wifdom,  in 
order  to  his  happinefs  at  lafl. 

THE  neceffities  of  the  poor  may  be  intended  as  the  moll 
certain  means  of  preferving  their  health,  and  keeping  them  mo- 
ral, temperate  and  humble,  which  are  great  virtues.  While 
the  fuperfluities  of  the  rich,  by  fubjecling  them  to  many  vices, 
may  render  the  final  account  of  their  itewardfhip  a  matter  of 
the  greater!:  anxiety  and  diflrefs  of  mind,  to  which  no  temporal 
fuffering  can  be  equivalent.  Hence,  if  we  confider  prefent  lefs 
grievous  than  future  evil,  it  will  appear,  in  this  comparative 
view  of  the  higher  and  lower  ranks  of  men,  that  the  differ- 
ence is  rather  in  favour  of  the  latter,  under  all  the  preffures 
and  mortifications  of  poverty. — Yet  this  is  by  no  means  to  be 
ufed  as  an  argument  by  the  opulent,  for  withholding  affiftance 
and  fupport  from  their  fellow-creatures,  in  real  want  of  them  ; 
for  humanity,  and,  the  cardinal  virtue,  charity,  call  upon  and 
require  all,  who  are  able,  to  fuccour  and  relieve  fuch  objects— 
to  which  may  be  added,  that  this  is  a  duty  particularly  en- 
joined by  our  bleffed  Saviour,  who  has  told  us,  as  a  forcible 
incitement  to  the  practice  of  it,  that  fuch  as  give  to  the  poor, 
lend  to  the  Lord,  which  is  telling  us,  in  other  words,  that  by 
this  means  treafure  is  to  be  laid  up  in  Heaven, 

SIMPLICITY,  the  infeparable  companion  Jooth  of  ge- 
nuine grace,  and  of  real  modefty,  if  it  doth  not  always  ftrike 
at  firfl  (of  which  it  feldom  fails)  is  fure,  however,  when  it  does 
ftrike,  to  produce  the  deepeft  and  moft  permanent  impreffions. 


IN 


i ! 


(     i88     ) 

I  N  folitude  I'll  fpend  the  day  ; 
The  fultry  hour  I'll  pafs  away, 

In  calm  retirement's  feat ; 
Enraptur'd,  (hatch  her  peaceful  joys, 
While  others  court  ambition's  toys, 

And  ftudy  to  be  great. 

THE    BEGGAR. 

«  pi^fY  the  forrows  of  a  poor  old  man, 

Whofe  trembling  limbs  have  led  him  to  your  door  ; 
Whofe  days  are  dwindled  to  the  ihorteft  fpan, 

Gh  !  give  relief,  and  Heav'n  mail  blefs  your  flore. 
1  hefe  tatter 'd  rags  my  poverty  befpeak, 

Thefe  hoary  locks  proclaim  my  length  of  years, 
And  many  a  furrow,  in  my  grief- worn  cheek, 

Has  been  the  channel  to  a  flream  of  tears. 
Yon  houfe  erected  on  the  riling  ground, 

With  tempting  afpeft  drew  me  from  the  road, 
For  plenty,  there  a  refidence  has  found, 

And  grandeur,  a  magnificent  abode. 
Hard  is  the  cafe  of  the  infirm  and  poor, 

There  begging  for  a  morfel  of  their  bread, 
A  pamper'd  menial  thruft  me  from  the  door, 

To  feek  a  fhelter  in  an  humbler  fried. 
Gh  !  take  me  to  your  hofpitable  dome, 

Keen  blows  the  wind,  and  piercing  is  the  cold, 
Short  is  my  pafTage  to  the  friendly  tomb, 

For  I  am  miferably  poor  and  old. 
Heav'n  fends  afflictions — why  mould  we  repine  ? 

Here  happinefs  we  ne'er  were  born  to  fee, 
Too  focn,  alas  !  your  lot  may  be  like  mine, 

The  child  of  forrow  and  of  mifery. 
Was  I  to  teii  the  fource  of  every  grief, 

If  fo ft  companion  ever  touch'd  your  breaft, 
Your  hand  could  not  withhold  the  kind  relief, 

And  tears  of  pity  could  not  be  repreit. 
A  little  farm  was  my  paternal  lot, 

Then,  like  the  lark,  I  fprightly  hail'd  the  morn, 
But  ah !  oppreffion  drove  me  from  my  cot, 

My 


(     i?9     ) 

My  cattle  dy'd,  and  blighted  was  my  corn. 
My  daughter,  once  the  comfort  of  my  age, 

Lur'd  by  a  villain,  left  her  native  home, 
Is  now  abandon'd  on  the  world's  wide  ftage, 

And  doom'd  in  fcanty  poverty  to  roam. 
My  tender  wife,  fweet  foother  of  my  care, 

With  anguifh  felt  the  fore  calamity, 
Fell,  lingering  fell,  a  victim  to  defpair, 

And  left  the  world,  and  wretchedness,  to  me. 
Pity  the  forrows  of  a  poor  old  man, 

Whofe  trembling  limbs  have  led  him  to  your  door, 
Whofe  days  are  dwindled  to  the  fhorteft  fpan, 

Oh!  give  relief*,  and  Heav'n  will  blefs  your  (lore." 


EVERY  thing,  overdone,  is  liable  to  fufpicion.  Inno- 
cence, in  women,  wants  not  the  aid  of  oilentation  ;  like  inte- 
grity in  men,  it  refts  in  its  own  confcioufneis. 

A  S  cheerfulnefs  is  the  moft  natural  erTecl  of  real  goodnefs, 
it  is  alfo  its  moil  powerful  recommendation.  Wifdoin  is  never 
fo  attractive,  as  when  (he  fmiies. 

SHE  that  cannot  "  weep  with  them  that  weep,"  as  well 
as  rejoice  with  them  that  rejoice, "  is  a  Granger  to  one  of  the 
fweetefl  fources  of  enjoyment,  no  lefs  than  to  one  of  the  no- 
blefl  leffons  of  Chriftianity.  Thofe  are  the  happieft  difpofiti- 
ons,  which  are  the  beft. 

THERE  is  not  any  thing  more  contemptible,  or  more  to 
be  pitied,  than  that  turn  of  mind,  which,  finding  no  entertain- 
ment in  itfeif,  none  at  home,  none  in  books,  none  in  rational 
converfation,  nor  in  the  intercourfes  of  real  iriendfhip,  nor  in 
ingenious  works  of  any  kind,  is  continually  feeking  to  itirlle 
reflection  in  a  tumult  of  pleafures,  and  to  divert  wearinefs  in  a 
crowd. 

FEMALE  modefty  is  often  filent ;    female  decorum  is 
never  bold.     Both  forbid  a  young  woman  to  lead  the  conver- 
fation ; 


f   190  ) 

fation  ;  and  true  religion  dreads  every  thing  that  might  look 
oftentatious.  The  mod  prudent  courfe  you  can  purfue,  is  to 
aflbciate,  as  much  as  poffible,  with  thofe  that  from  real  princi- 
ple love  the  (hade. 

I  F  thou  wouldeft  bear  thy- neighbour's  faults,  caft  thine  eye 
upon  thine  own. 

THE  truly  humble  man,  fufFers  quietly,  and  patientlv,  in- 
ternal troubles  ;  and  he  is  the  man  that  makes  great  way  in  a 
little  time,  like  one  that  fails  before  the  wind. 

PERFECTION  does  not  confift  in  teaching  the  truth, 
but  in  doing  it,  becaufe  he  is  neither  the  greateft  faint,  nor  the 
wifeit  man,  that  knows  the  truth  moll,  but  he  that  praftifes  it. 

WHEN  a  young  woman  behaves  to  her  parents  in  a  man- 
ner particularly  tender  and  refpeclful,  from  principle  as  well  as 
nature,  their  is  nothing  good  or  gentle,  that  may  not  be  ex- 
pected from  her,  in  whatever  condition  fhe  is  placed. 


The  unknown  World — On  hearing  a  Patting  Bell. 

HARK,  my  gay  friend,  that  folemn  toll 
Speaks  the  departure  of  a  foul. 
'Tis  gone — that's  all  we  know,  not  where, 
Or  how  th5  unbody'd  foul  does  fare. 

In  that  myfterious  world  none  knows, 
But  God  alone  to  whom  it  goes  ; 
To  whom  departed  fouls  return 
To  take  their  doom,  to  fmile  or  mourn. 
Oh  !  by  what  glimm'ring  light  we  view, 
The  unknown  world  we're  hait'ning  to. 
Swift  flies  the  foul — perhaps  'tis  gone 
A  thoufand  leagues  beyond  the  fun  ; 
Or  twice  ten  thoufand  more  thrice  told, 
Ere  the  forfaken  clay  is  cold. 
And  yet  who  knows,  if  friends  we  lov'd, 


The* 


(     '9<     ) 

Tho*  dead,  may  be  fo  far  remov'd, 
Only  this  vail  of  flelh  between, 
Perhaps  they  watch  us,  tho'  unfeen. 
iit  we  their  lofs  lamenting  fay, 
They're  out  of  hearing  far  away, 
Guardians  to  us,  perhaps  they're  near, 
Conceal 'd  in  vehicles  of  air, 
And  yet  no  notices  they  give, 
Nor  tell  us  how  or  where  they  live. 
Tho*  confcious,  while  with  us  below, 
How  much  themfelves  defir'd  to  know, 
As  if  bound  up  by  folemn  fate, 
To  keep  this  fecret  of  their  ftate  ; 
To  tell  their  joys  or  pains  to  none, 
That  man  might  live  by  faith  alone. 
Well,  let  my  Sovereign,  if  he  pleafe, 
Lock  up  his  marvellous  decrees ; 
Why  mould  I  wifh  him  to  reveal 
What  he  thinks  proper  to  conceal  ? 
It  is  enough  that  I  believe 
HeavVs  brighter  than  I  can  conceive  ; 
And  he  that  makes  it  all  his  care 
To  ferve  God  here,  mail  fee  him  there. 
But  oh  !  what  worlds  (hall  I  furvey, 
The  moment  that  I  leave  this  clay  : 
How  fudden  the  iurprize — how  new — 
Let  it,  my  God  !  be  happy  too  ! 

- 

FROM  the  confederation  cf  God,  as  he  is  in  himfelf  pow- 
er, wifdom,  goodnefs,  beauty  and  felicity  itfeif,  children  n;uil 
be  often  excited  and  ilirred  up  to  the  defire  of  efteeming 
of  praifine  him,  of  honouring  him  as  he  deferves,  and  of  plead- 
ing him  in  eA'ery  thing.     They  mull  !.>e  made  to  under 
that  this  is  the  principal  end  for  which  we  are  fent  into  the 
world,  namely,  to  eiteem,   honour  and  praife  God,  without 
ceafing,  by  the  continual  defires  and  elevations  of  our 
to  him  ;  and  that,  fince  this  is  the  employ ment  of  angels,  by 
being   exercifed  in  it,   we  become  their  companions  in   this 


(      *92     ) 

world,  and  even  fellow-citizens  of  Heaven  with  them, by  imi- 
tating thofe  divine  fpirits. 

SI  N  C  E  both  the  imagination  and  the  memory,  are  facul- 
ties which  have  the  molt  firength,  and  mofl  activity  in  chil- 
dren, it  would  be  well  to  cultivate  them  from  the  very  be- 
ginning, that  we  may  communicate  unto  them  as  much  know- 
ledge of  the  things  of  their  falvation,  as  is  poflible,  and  as  they 
are  capable  of  receiving. 

SILENCE  is  neceiTary  on  many  occafions,  but  you  rnufr. 
always  be  fincere  and  courteous  :  You  ought  to  retain  fome 
thoughts,  but  difguife  none. 


AND,  from  the  prayer  of  want,  and  plaint  of  woe, 

O  !  never,  never,  turn  away  thine  ear ; 
Forlorn,  in  this  bleak  wildernefs  below, 

Ah  !  what  were  man,  mould  Heav'n  refufe  to  hear  ? 
To  others  do  (the  law  is  not  fevere) 

What  to  thyfelf  thou  wifheft  to  be  done  ; 
Forgive  thy  foes,  and  love  thy  parents  dear, 

And  friends  and  native  land  ;    nor  thofe  alone, 
All  human  weal  and  woe  learn  thou  to  make  thine  own, 

TRUE  dignity  is  his,  whofe  tranquil  mind 
Virtue  has  rais'd  above  the  things  below, 

Who  ev'ry  hope  and  fear  to  Heav'n  refign'd, 

Shrinks  not,  tho'  adverfe  winds  may  keenly  blow. 


WE  mould  be  cautious  and  circumfpecl  in  all  our  ways, 
and  watchful  over  ourfelves,  living  in  the  fear  of  God  all  the 
day  long,  that  we  fin  not  againffc  him. 

L  E  T  us  all  endeavour  to  be  fpiritually-minded,  and  fet 
our  afFedions  on  things  above  ;  fubdue  our  pa/lions,  be  peacea- 
ble and  loving,  meek,  courteous,  tnodeft,  teachable  and  go- 
vernable, not  wife  in  our  own  conceit,  not  wilful  or  ftubhorn. 

We 


(     '93     ) 

W  E  muft  be  contented  with  onrprefent  condition,  not  mur- 
muring or  repining  at  it,  or  either  arnbitioufly  or  covetoufiy 
fceking  one~more  high  or  plentiful  :  neither  fretting  and  vexing 
our  own  fouls,  nor  envying  others ;  but  leaving  freely  all  things 
to  God's  difpofal,  and  fubmitting  cheerfully  to  his  providence. 

MA  Y  we  wifely  improve  every  talent  that  God  has  given 
us  ;  doing  as  much  good  as  we  can  with  every  thing,  b 
ourfelves  and  others.     We  muft  fhun  floth  and  idleness,  vain 
paftimes,  and  fuperrluous  recreations,  coftly  vanities,  unpro- 
fitable ftudies  and  employments, 

I  N  the  evening  reafon  with  thy felf  and  {zy,  how  have  I 
fpent  this  day  r  Am  I  better  than  I  was  yefterday  ?  Have  I 
overcome  any  vice  ?  and  hath  God's  grace  been  efF;Ctaal  in 
me  ?  if  it  has,  then  let  my  foul  rejoice  exceedingly,  and  afcribe 
to  her  Lord  the  glory  of  her  good  actions. 

THE  heart  is  the  fountain,  and  our  words  are  the  dreams  : 
and  if  the  fountain  be  muddy,  the  itreams  proceeding  from 
k,  cannot  be  clear. 


B  E  my  ambition  only  to  excel 
In  the  bleft  art,  "  the  art  of  living  well  ;" 
Who  this  attains,  bids  fin  and  forrow  ceafe, 
With  hope  looks  Heav'n-ward,  and  fnall  die  in  peace, 

O  X     A     W  A  T  C  H. 

WT  H  I  L  E  this  gay  toy  attracts  thy  fight, 

Thy  reafon  let  it  warn  ; 
And  fieze,  my  dear,  that  rapid  time, 

That  never  muft  return. 
If    idly  loft,  no  art  or  care  ^ 

The  bieiiing  can  reftore  ; 
And  Heav'n  requires  a  flrlcc  account 

For  ev'ry  mifpent  hour, 
Short  is  our  longed  day  of  life, 


A 


(     J94     ) 

And  foon  its  profped  ends,     , 
Yet  on  that  day's  uncertain  date 

Eternity  depends. 
Yet  equal  to  our  being's  aim 

The  fpace  to  virtue  giv'n  ; 
And  ev'ry  minute,  well  improv'd, 

Secures  an  age  in  Heav'n. 


YIELDING  to  immoral  pleafu res,  corrupts  the  mind  ; 
living  to  animal  and  trifling  ones,  debaff:s  it ;  both,  m  their  de- 
gree, disqualify  it  for  its  genuine  good,  and  coniign  it  over  to 
wretchectnefs.  Whoever  would  be  really  happy,  muit  make 
the  diligent  and  regular  exercife  of  his  fupericr  powers  his  chief 
attention,  adoring  the  perfections  of  his  Maker,  exprefling  good 
will  to  his  fellow-creatures,  and  cultivating  inward  rectitude. 

THE  greateft  honour  you  can  pay  to  the  author  of  your 
being,  is  by  fuch  a  cheerful  behaviour,  as  difcovers  a  mind  fa- 
tisfied  with  his  diipenfations. 

THE  fcripture  fays,  we  are  to  forgive  until  feventy  times 
feven  ;  that  is,  perpetually,  thofe  who  do  repent ;  and  thofe 
who  do  not  repe  nt,  but  perfift  in  injuring  us,  we  are  to  pray 
for,  and  be  willing  to  do  acls  of  charity  and  humanity  to 
them,  when  need  requires ;  and  not  to  revenge,  but  much  ra- 
ther to  defire  their  amendment,  and  by  all  reafonable  means 
promote  reconciliation. 


ONE  part,  one  little  part,  we  dimly  fcan, 

Thro'  the  dark  rhedium  of  life's  fev'rifh  dream, 
Yet  dare  arraign  the  whole  ftupendous  plan, 

If  but  that  little  part  incongruous  feem. — 
Nor  is  that  part  perhaps  what  mortals  deem  ; 

Oft  from  apparent  ill  our  bleffings  rife ; 
Oh  !   then,  renounce  that  impious,  felf-efteem, 

For  thou  art  but  of  dull ;  be  humble,  and  be  wife. 

GOOD. 


(     i95     ) 

GOOD-NATURE  is  not  of  lefs  importance  to  our- 
felves  than  to  others^  The  morofe  and  petulant  firft  feel  the 
anguifh  that  they  give  :  Reproach,  revilings  and  inveclive,  are 
but  the  overflowings  of  their  own  infelicity,  and  are  conitantljr 
again  forced  back  upon  their  fource. 


The  Ten  Commandments. 

R  E  N  O  U  N  C  E  all  other  Gods,  but  only  me, 
And  to  no  image  bow  thy  heart  or  knee. 
Take  not  the  awful  name  of  God  in  vain, 
Nor  e'er  his  holy  fabbath  day  prophane. 
Honour  thy  parents,  and  thou  long  {halt  live, 
Commit  not  murder,  but  all  wrongs  forgive. 
From  filthy  lufts,  keep  foul  and  body  free, 
Nor  Heal,  tho'  prefs'd  by  dire  neceility. 
Againft  thy  neighbour,  ne'er  falfe  witnefs  bear, 
Nor  covet  goods,  in  which  thou  haft  no  fhare. 

From  Pope's  EfTay  on  Man. 

L  O,  the  poor  Indian  !  vvhofe  untutored  mind 
Sees  God  in  clouds,  or  hears  him  in  the  wind  ; 
His  foul  proud  fcience  never  taught  to  ilray 
Far  as  the  folar  walk,  or  milky  way  ; 
Yet  fimple  nature  to  his  hope  has  giv'n 
Behind  the  cloud-top  t  hill,  an  humbler  Heav'n  ; 
Some  fafer  world,  in  depth  of  woods  embrac'd, 
Some  happier  ifland  in  the  watry  wafte, 
Where  (laves  once  more  their  native  land  behold, 
No  fiends  torment,  no  Chriftians  thirft  for  gold. 
To  be  content's  his  natural  defire, 
He  afks  no  angel's  wing,  no  feraph's  fire, 
But  thinks,  admitted  to  that  equal  fky, 
His  faithful  dog  fhall  bear  him  company. 

S  O  much  have  our  common  purfuits,  which  we  plead  as  the 
means  of  fupporting  life,  diverted  men  from  the  true  ends  for 
which  they  were  fent  into  the  world,  that  the  judicious  and 

pious 


(     iS6    ) 

pious,  in  all  ages,  fince  the  time  of  Solomon,  have  readily 
fubferibed  to  his  opinion,  that  all  of  them  are  indeed  "  vanity 
and  vexation  of  fpirit."  For  we  find  there  are  fome  who  fpend 
their  whole  time  in  grammar  and  rhetoric,  or  in  learning  to 
fpeak  well,  without  allowing  themfelves  any  leifure  to  fludy 
the  more  important  concern  of  living  well. 

Others  there  are,  who  are  fo  bufy  in  finding  out  the 
riddles  of  a  logical  fphinx,  that  they  examine  all  the  trifles  and 
impertinencies  of  reafon,  to  find  out  what  reafon  is,  and  in  the 
fearch  thereof,  oftentimes  lofe  themfelves  and  their  reafon  too. 

There    are   many,     who,    by    arithmetic,   learn    to   divide 
every  thing  into  the  molt  minute  fractions,  and  yet  do  not  know 
)  divide  an  halfpenny  with  a  poor  afflicted  brother  in  the 
f  charitjh 

Many  there  are,  who,  by  the  help  of  geometry,  can  fet  li-* 
mits  to  grounds,  ai^d  feparate  them  from  one  another  ;  can 
meafure  cities  and  countries,  and  yet  cannot  attain  to  any  rule 
whereby  they  are  enabled  to  meafure  themfelves. 

The  muiician  can  bring  different  voices  and  tones  into  one 
harmenv,  and  yet  all  the  while  may  have  nothing  that  is  har- 
monious in  his  own  mind;  nothing,  which,  by  reafon  of  its 
perturbation,  does  not  run  counter  to  all  mufical  meafures. 

The  aftronomer,  whilft  with  fixed  eyes  he  looks  up  to  Hea- 
ven, and  attentively  views  the  motion  of  the  ftars,  very  fre- 
quently Rumbles  into  the  next  ditch  ;  and  while  he  is  fortelling 
things  to  come,  lofes  thofe  that  are  prefent  ;  for  the'  with  fixed 
eyes~he  iooks  up  to  Heaven,  yet  his  mind  is  coo  much  darkened 
and  defiled  with  the  mire  of  this  world,  to  think  of  a  better* 

The  philofopher  difputes  gravely  and  accurately,  of  the 
nature  of  things,  and  yet,  perhaps,  is  no  wifer  than  a  real 
child,  as  to  the  nature  of  himfelf,  and  the  things  of  Heaven. 

The  phyfician  takes  care  of  the  health  of  others,  but  as  to 
the  knowledge  oi  the  difeafes  of  his  own  mind,  may  be  as 
blind  as  a  beetle  ;  he  diligently  watches  the  variations  of  his 
patient's  pulfe,  but  how  to  cure  the  evil  difpoiuions,  and  wrong 
tempers,  in  himfelf,  he  knows  and  cares  but  little  about  them. 

The  hiftorian  has  the  Theban  and  Trojan  wars  at  his  fingers 
ends,  but  is  almoit  wholly  ignorant  of  a  much  higher  con- 
eern,,  the  proper  knowledge  of  himfelf.  The 


t  197  ) 

The  lawyer,  though  he  has  fpent  whole  years  in  the  con- 
flruclion  and  expofition  of  human  laws,  for  the  government 
of  others,  is  too  often  but  little  acquainted  with  that  divine 
law  which  teaches  and  enjoins  a  ftricl  government  over  his 
own  aclions. 

The  theologift,  earneftly  contends  for,  and  difpu.tes   about 
faith,   but  too   feldom   thinks  of  charity  ;  he  fpeaks  much  of 
■  God,  but  to  help  his  neighbour  in  time  of  need,  has  too  little 
concern. 

The  merchant  is  very  folicitous  of  gain  from  every  port  to 
which  he  can  extend  his  trade,  or  in  which  he  can  obtain  cre- 
dit— yet  feldom  troubles  his  head  in  eftabliihing  a  correipon- 
dence  with  that  happy  country,  which  offers  the  richeil  mer- 
chandize— that  neither  moth  can  corrupt,  or  thieves  have  pow- 
er to  Heal. 

The  farmer,  tho'  daily  exercifed  with  much  toil  and  fatigue, 
in  breaking  up  and  improving  the  moft  ftubborn  and  rugged 
foils,  with  a  view  to  a  beneficial  crop,  yet  how  does  he  neglect, 
year  after  year,  to  break  up  and  improve  the  barren  foil  of  his 
own  heart,  which,  without  equal  care  and  cultivation,  will  ne- 
ver produce  that  crop  of  good  works,  which  makes  truly  rich, 
and  adds  no  forrow. 

Arts  and  fciences  do  indeed  wear}-  the  minds  of  men  with 
continual  labour,  but  yield  them  no  true  felicity. 

It  is  religion,  only,  can  regulate  the  heart — it  caafes  it  to 
melt  in  iympathy  with  diflrefs,  or  to  glow  with  pleafure  at  the 
happinefs  of  another — it  is  that  alone  can  harmonize  die  mind, 
((  Attuning  all  its  paflions  into  peace.'* 

The  aftronomer,  if  enlightened  by  it,  mutt  contemplate, 
with  wonder  and  admiration,  thofe  luminaries  which  his  eve 
fo  often  gazes  on  with  pleafure.  The  philofopher  too,  wfcen 
the  wonders  of  nature  are  opened  to  his  view,  with  what  ado- 
ration and  gratitude  mult  he  look  to  that  great  fource  from 
whence  thev  flow  !  And  in  all  profeiiions,  how  imperfect  is 
man  unlefs  illumined  by  the  bright  rays  of  religion,  which, 
like  the  glorious  luminary,  the  fun, "  will  enlighten  all  our 
paths. 

* 

R  3  H  Y  M  N  '' 


(     i9«     I 

H     Y    M    N.  • 

THE  Lord  my  pafture  (hall  prepare,.. 
And  feed  me  with  a  fhepherd's  care  ; 
His  prefer] ce  fhall  my  wants  fupply, 
And  guard  me  with  a  watchful  eye  ; 
My  noon-day  walks  he  fhall  attend, 
And  all  my  midnight  hours  defend* 

2. 

When  in  the  fultry  glebe  I  faint, 
Or  on  the  thirlh  mountain  pant, 
To  fertile  vales,  and  dewy  meads, 

wczryf  wand'ring  fteps  he  leads> 
Where  peaceful  rivers,  foft  and  flowv 
Amid  the  verdant  landikrp  flow. 

Tho'  in  the  paths  of  death  I  tread 
With  gloomy  horrors  overfpread, 
My  ftedfaft  heart  fhall  fear  no  ill, 
For  thou,  O  Lord  !  art  with  me  ftill  ; 
Thy  friendly  crook  fhall  give  me  aid* 
And  guide  me  thro'  the  dreadful  made* 

4- 
Tho'  in  a  bare  and  rugged  way, 
Thro?  devious,  lonely  wilds  I  ftrayv 
Thy  beauty  (hall  my  "pain?  beguile— 
The  barren  wildernefs  fhall  fmile, 
With  fudden  greens  and  herbage  crown'd, 
And  -creams  fhall  murmur  all  around. 


N  O  thought  is  beautiful,  which  is  not  juft  ;  and  no  thought 
can  be  jull,  which  is  not  founded  in  truth. 

W  E  are  apt  to  fancy,  that  we  fhall  be  happy  and  fatisfied, 
if  we  poffefs  ourfelves  of  foch  and  fuch  particular  enjoyments  ; 
but  either  by  reafm  of  their  emptinefs,  or  the  natural  inquietude 
of  the  mind,  we  have  no  fooner  gained  one  point,  but  we  ex- 
tend our  hopes  to  another.  We  itill  finu  new  inviting  fcenes 
jmd  landfcares,  lying  behind  thofe  which  at  a  difiance  termi- 
nated our  view,  IF 


(     J99     ) 

I  F  we  hope  for  what  we  are  not  likely  to  poffefs,  we  aft 
and  think  in  vain,  and  make  life  a  greater  dream  and  fhadow 
than  it  really  is. 


An  Autumnal  Reflection. 

e 

In  fading  grandeur,  lo  !  the  trees 

Their  tarnihYd  honour  flied  ; 
While  every  leaf-compelling  breeze 

Lays  their  dim  verdure  dead. 
Ere'  while  they  fhot  a  vig'rous  length, 

Of  flow'rs,    and  fruit,    and  green ; 
Now,  (horn  of  beauty  and  of  ftrength, 

They  ftand  a  ihatter'd  fcene ! 
Ere'  long  the  genial  breath  of  fpring 

Shall  all  their  charms  renew  ; 
And  flow'rs,  and  fruit,  and  foliage  bring, 

All  pleafmg  to  the  view  ! 
Thus  round  and  round  the  feafons  roll, 

In  one  harmonious  courfe, 
And  pour  convictions  on  the  foul 

With  unremitting  force. 
Not  fuch  is  mans's  appointed  fate — 

One  fpring  alone  he  knows  ! 
One  fummer,  one  autumnal  ftate, 

One  winter's  dead  repofe. 
Yet,   not  the  dreary  fleep  of  death, 

Shall  e'er  his  pow'rs  deftroy, 
But  man  mall  draw  immortal  breath 

In  endlefs  pain  or  joy. 
Important  thought  ! — oh  mortal  !  hear 

On  what  thy  peace  depends  ; 
The  voice  of  truth  invites  thine  ear, 

And  this  the  voice  fhe  fends. 
4C  When  virtue  glows  withyouthful  charms^ 

How  bright  the  vernal  ikies  ! 
When  virtue  like  the  fummer  warms, 

What  golden  harvefts  rife  !" 
When  vices  fpring  without  controuJ^ 

What 


(       200      ) 

What  bitter  fruits  appear  ! 
A  wintry  darknefs  wraps  the  foul 

And  horrors  clofe  the  year. 
Let  youth  to  virtue's  fhrine  repair. 

And  men  their  tribute  bring, 
Old  age  fhall  lofe  its  load  of  care, 

And  death  (hall  lofe  its  fting. 
Borne  upwards  on  feraphic  wing, 

Their  happy  fouls  fhall  foar, 
And  there  enjoy  eternal  fpring, 

Nor  fear  a  winter  more. 


THERE  is  nothing  in  nature  unworthy  of  a  wife  man's 
regard,  becaufe  the  moft  inferior  of  all  her  productions,  may, 
in  fome  light  or  another,  be  made  inftrumental  to  his  improve- 
ment. 

C^r*  THERE  is  fuch  a  clofe  affinity  betwen  a  proper  cul- 
tivation 01  a  flower  garden,  and  a  right  difcipline  of  the  mind, 
that  it  appears  difficult  for  a  rightly  thoughtful  perfon,  that  has 
made  any  proficiency  in  the  one,  to  avoid  paying  a  due  atten- 
tion to  the  other.  That  induftry  and  care  which  are  fo  requi- 
fite  to  cloanfe  a  garden  from  all  forts  of  weeds,  will  naturally 
fugg.°ft  to  him  how  much  -nore  expedient  it  would  be  to  exert 
the  fame  diligence  in  eradicating  all  forts  of  prejudices,  follies 
and  vices,  from  the  mind,  where  they  will  be  as  fure  to  pre- 
vail, without  a  great  deal  of  care  and  correction,  as  common 
weeds  in  a  neglected  piece  of  ground.  And  as  it  requires 
more  pains  to  extirpate  fome  weeds  than  ethers,  according 
as  they  are  more  firmly  rixt,  more  numerous,  or  more  naturalized 
to  the  foil  ;  fo  thofe  faults  will  be  found  the  moft  difficult  to 
be  fupprefled,  which  have  been  of  the  longeft  growth,  and 
taken  the  deeper!  root  ;  which  are  more  predominate  in  num- 
ber, and  moft  congenial  to  the  confiitution. 

I  F  our  common  life  is  not  a  common  courfe  of  humility, 
felf-denial,  renunciation  of  the  world,  poverty  of  fpirit,  and 
Heavenly  affection,  we  do  not  live  the  lives  of  Chriftians. 

W  E  A  K 


(       201        ) 

WEAK  and  imperfect  men,  mall,  notwithstanding  their 
frailties  and  defect,  be  received,  as  having  pleafed  God,  if 
they  have  done  their  utmoft  to  pleafe  him. 

THE  rewards  of  charity,  piety  and  humility,  will -be  given 
to  thofe  whofe  lives  have  been  a  careful  labour  to  exercife  thefe 
virtues  in  as  high  a  degree  as  they  could. 

VALUE  no  man  but  for  his  probity,  and  living  up  to  the 
rules  of  piety  and  juftice.  If  integrity  does  not  make  you 
profperous,  it  will  at  lead  keep  you  from  being  miferable  ; 
for  no  man  can  be  truly  religious,  that  is  not  likewife  confci- 
entiouily  juil  and  honed. 

A  SOUND  faith  is  the  belt,  divinity  ;  a  good  confcience 
the  belt  law  ;    and  temperance  the  bed  phytic. 


A  Soliloquy  on  Death. 

TO  die,  is  but  to  take  a  lad  farewel 
Of  life,  and  all  its  tranfitory  cares  ; 
To  clofe  our  eyes  and  (hut  out  clay  forever. 
Thus  much  we  know  :  And  that  this  frail  exidence 
Shall  to  its  filler  earth  again  return, 
To  pulverize,  and  be  diiiblv'd  to  nought. 
To  die  (however  awful  feems  the  found) 
Is  but  to  lay  us  peaceful  down  to  red, 
Sink  into  ileep,  and  waken  in  eternity. 

Whence  then  proceeds  this  coward  fear  of  death, 
Thefe  confcience- working  pangs,  that  plague  us  all, 
And  make  us  fink,  e?en  to  the  grave  itfelf, 
At  the  bare  mention  ?  Has  not  that  Great  Caufe, 
The  Eternal  One,  whofe  wifdom  cannot  err, 
From  the  beginning  of  the  earlied  time, 
Declar'd,  that  man  and  all  his  race,  fhould  die  ? 

'Tis  the  effential  pailport  that  mud  bring 
(No  matter  when,  or  how,  or  foon,  or  late) 
All  nature  to  that  never-ending  date, 
Which  immortality  alone  can  give.  The  ■ 


i 


(       202       ) 

The  foul,  then,  as  intruded  from  above, 
Scon  as  it  quits  its  lifelefs,  clay-cold  corfe, 
Mounts  on  the  borrowed  filver  plumes  of  Heav'n, 
Thro'  chequ'ring  clouds,  and  foars  above  the  ftars. 

But,  oh  !  who  dare  enquire  its  fate  decreed  ? 
For  Heav'n  that  knowledge  interdicts  to  man, 
And  ftupifies  the  bu fy,  wand'rjng  fenfe, 
That  may  attempt  this  fecret  to  explore. 

GRANT  Imay  ever,  at  the  morning  ray, 
Open  with  pray'r  the  confecrated  day  ; 
Tune  thy  great  praife,  and  bid  my  foul  arife, 
And  with  the  mounting  fun  afcend  the  fkies  ; 
As  that  advances,  let  my  zeal  improve, 
And  glow  with  ardour  of  confummate  love  ; 
Kcr  ceafe  at  eve,  but  with  the  fetting  fun 
My  endlefs  worfhip  mall  be  ftill  begun. 

Extract  from  young's  laft  Day. 

HAVE  aag^H  ffnn'd,  and  mall  not  man  beware  I 

How  mall  a  fon  of  earth  decline  the  fnare  ? 

Not  folded  arms,  and  flacknefs  of  the  mind, 

Can  promife  for  the  fafety  of  mankind  : 

None  are  fupinely  good  :    Thro*  care  and  pain, 

-And  various  toils,  the  fteep  afcent  we  gain. 

This  is  the  fcene  of  combat,  not  of  reft, 

Man's  is  laborious  happinefs  at  beft  ; 

On  this  fide  death  his  dangers  never  ceafe, 

His  joys  are  joys  of  conqueft,  crown'd  with  peace. 


JUST  PUBLISHED, 

[Price  Eight  Shilling   and  Four- Pence] 


AND      TO     BE     SOLD      BY 


JOSEPH  JAMES, 


AT     HIS 


Printing-Office, 

In  Chefnut- Street,  between  Front  and  Second-Streets, 

SCRIPTURE  TRUTHS 

DEMONSTRATED, 

In  Thirty-Two  Sermons,  by 

STEPHEN    CRISP; 

Together  with  his  Prayers  after  Sermon.  Carefully  taken  in 
Characters  or  Short-Hand,  as  they  were  delivered  by  him,  at 
the  Public  Meeting- Houfes  of  the  People  called  Quakers, 
in  and  about  London.  Q^T  The  important  Truths  contained 
in  this  Colle&ion,  muft  render  it  highly  interefting  to  the  fober 
Enquirer. 

HE    HAS    ALSO     FOR    SALE, 

A     VARIETY     OF 

SCHOOL   BOOKS, 

AMONG  WHICH  ARE, 
Corderius,  Philadelphia  Vocabulary,  RudimanJs  Rudiments, 
Webfter's  Inftitute,  &c.  with  a  fmall,  though  valuable  Collection 
of  Books,  fuitable  for  an  elegant  and  well-chofen  Library; 
among  the  Selection  are — Milton's  Paradife  Loft,  Goldfmith's 
animated  Nature,  Gibbon's  Decline  of  the  Roman  Empire, 
Rollin's  ancient  and  Roman  Hiflory,  &c,  &c. 


JESSE    WATERMAN, 
Bookfeller  and  Stationer, 

In  Third,  between  Market  and  Arch-Streets, 
HAS      FOR     SALE, 

A  large  and  general  Ajfortment  of 

Books  and   Stationary, 

—V    I    z— 

SCHOOL  Bibles,  and  others ;  Teltaments,  Spelling- 
Books,  by  various  Authors  ;  Webfter's  Inftitute  of  the 
Englifh  Grammar,  a  neat  Edition  ;  Buchanan's  Syntax,  Afh's 
Introduction  to  the  Englifh  Grammar,  Ellwood's  Davidies, 
Fifher's  Youv.g  Man's  Companion  and  Arithmetic  ;  Dilworth's 
Arithmetic,  Mair's  Book-Keeping,  Atkinfon's  Epitome  of  Na- 
vigation, Pvobertfon's  Navigation,  Chapone's  Letters  on  the  Im- 
provement of  the  Mind,  Entic's  Pocket  Dictionary  and  Spelling- 
Eook ;  Manfon's  Pocket  Dictionary,  adapted  to  Sheridan's 
Pronunciation ;  alio  Latin  Books  for  Schools,  fuch  as  Rudiman's 
Rudiments  ;  a  Latin  Grammar  for  the  Ufe  of  the  Univerfity 
and  Academy  of  Pennfylvania  ;  Corderius,  Cicero's  Offices 
and  Orations,  Ovid's  Metamorphosis,  &c.  Writing  Paper,  of 
various  Kinds  and  Sizes,  wrapping  ditto  of  the  bed  Quality  ; 
Day-Books,  Journals,  Ledgers,  Invoices  and  Letter  Books,  of 
various  Sizes,  fuited  to  Merchant's  Compting-Hcufes  ;  like- 
wife  cyphering  and  copy  Books,  ready  made  for  Schools ; 
London  and  American  Ink- Powder  ;  ready  made  Ink,  in 
Bottles  or  by  the  Gill;  Sealing-Wax  and  Wafers ;  Slates 
and  Pencils ;  bed  Englifh  Quills,  Ink-Stands,  bed  Penknives 
and  ScirTars,  &c.  &c.  blank  Bonds,  Bills  of  Lading,  Bills  of 
Exchange,  Apprentice's  and  Servant's  Indentures,  Carey  Bills, 
&c.  likewife  a  number  of  Stephen  Crifp's  Sermons,  lately  prin- 
ted in  Philadelphia,  by  the  Dozen  or  fmgle  ;  American  Mu- 
feum,  and  the  Columbian  Magazine  (monthly  publications) 
alfo  Scott's  fpelling  Dictionary,  and  Bell's  Britim  Poets,  109 
Vol.  THE 

Book-Binding  Bufinefs, 

o  7 

Likewiie  carried  on  in  the  neateft  Manner. 


J 


jr 


*?>:-•'' 
$&!& 


•'    •:- 


